A 12,000-plus crowd could see Pawel Abbott make his McAlpine debut tomorrow as Town chase a first League win over Lincoln in 22 years (3.00).

The 21-year-old Preston loan striker was a buoyant addition to the training squad at Storthes Hall yesterday after scoring the equaliser in Tuesday's 1-1 draw against Bristol Rovers.

The Polish Under 21 cap is now set to make his first start for the club as Town look to leapfrog Yeovil into fifth place with what would be a highly significant win against Keith Alexander's seventh-placed challengers.

"Three points would be a huge boost for us," said manager Peter Jackson, noting Yeovil are at Darlington, Torquay at Hull and Mansfield play Doncaster.

"This is going to be a really tough game for us because Lincoln work as hard as any team I've seen and they are very dangerous - especially from set pieces and long throws.

"They are well organised, too, which is why they've enjoyed some success this season, but if we add some better passing to the spirit and battling qualities which we've always had, then I'm looking forward to the challange and to our fans drowning out the noise from a big away following."

Midfielder Lee Fowler (hernia) was being put through his paces today as Jackson added Nat Brown and Chris Holland to a squad which has lost just once in 10 matches.

Apart from an extra-time Auto Windscreens Shield win in 1994, however, Town have beaten Lincoln only twice in 11 senior meetings since 1960 - and they haven't won in the League against them since the 1982-83 promotion season, when Keith Hanvey and Mark Lillis scored in a 2-1 victory at Sincil Bank.

"Records are there to be broken and we are very much up for the game," said Jackson, who will welcome defender Ian Hughes back to training on Monday after recovering from knee surgery.

"Pawel has enjoyed himself in training, he made an excellent start with a vital goal down at Bristol and he will be looking to do well again at home."

Defender Nathan Clarke goes into the game lifted by selection in the Nationwide team of the week and by being named the Blue and White Foundation's player of the month.

"Clarkey has been outstanding for us and he seems to get better by the game," commented Jackson, who will again have Academy youngster Jacob Giles on the bench as back-up keeper.

"There were fears about his injury problems and, to be honest, I was worried early on, but he has worked ever so hard to get back and he is now looking a very, very good centre-back.

"Nathan and the rest of them know we will have to defend well tomorrow, though, because the Lincoln side features several aggressive six-footers and they are good at corners, free-kicks and throw-ins.

"If we match them in those areas, I'm confident we can give our fans something to shout about and it is a big match, so we need as many as possible down at the McAlpine tomorrow to get behind the lads."

Lincoln, who announced a profit of over £205,000 on last year, have just agreed to extend Alexander's contract until 2006.

He has named an unchanged squad after this week's 4-1 success at York and will be looking to extend the Imps' unbeaten run to five matches.

Town - Senior, Holdsworth, Lloyd, Clarke, Sodje, Yates, Carss, Worthington, Schofield, Booth, Abbott, Fowler, Edwards, Newby, Mirfin, Brown, Holland, Giles.

Lincoln City - Marriott, Futcher, Morgan, Weaver, Bailey, Sedgemore, Gain, Mayo, Richardson, Fletcher, Green, Bailey, Liburd, Bloomer, Willis, Cropper, May.

Referee - George Cain (Bootle).