CRAIG Armstrong will make his Forest Green Rovers debut on Saturday against York City as Rovers bid to escape relegation trouble.

The 34-year-old defender was signed on loan from Mansfield until the end of the season but had to put his debut on hold after the postponement of the Gateshead game to a waterlogged pitch.

Rovers have games in hand on their relegation rivals but the points deduction as a result of Chester City's expulsion from the league has thrown their survival plans into turmoil.

Rovers had more to lose than most and the decision to strip them of their away win earlier in the season left manager Dave Hockaday in reflective mood.

He said: "I do not take any pleasure in seeing any football club in this situation and it can't have been easy at the league meeting to have to rule this way.

"From a selfish point of view it is typical of this season that we should suffer as much as most, as we had beaten them away.

"All we can do is carry on our fight for survival and that is exactly what we shall do and a couple of wins would put us on the right path."

York City will provide a significant challenge for Hockaday's men as they currently occupy third spot in the table.

But there is a bonus for Rovers as league top scorer Richard Brodie is suspended for the New Lawn clash.

The 27-goal hitman has served one game of a three match ban after he was sent-off at Ebbsfleet recently.

Rovers remain four points from safety and with four away games in a row after the York City game, the addition of veteran defender Armstrong could be a valuable one.

Mike Fowler is also in line for a place on the bench as he nears the end of the long road back to first team football after his horrific ankle injury that has kept him out all season.

■ Rovers' game against Barrow has been re-arranged for Wednesday March 31st (7.45pm) due to Barrow's FA Trophy commitments.