WREXHAM manager Denis Smith has drawn up a contingency plan for tomorrow's trip to Carlisle United because of fitness doubts over striker Lee McEvilly and defender Dennis Lawrence.

McEvilly is awaiting the results of a scan to determine whether he has sustained a stress fracture in his foot while Trinidad international Lawrence is still feeling the effects of a rib muscle injury that curtailed his involvement in last weekend's 1-1 draw with Notts County.

The Racecourse boss will make a decision on the duo this morning and said: "We might change things round a bit if Lee is unable to play.

"It's a new option we might implement for Saturday because we have got to try and make the best use of the players we have available.

With teenager Mike Williams the obvious understudy for a missing Lawrence, Smith declined to elaborate, saying merely that assistant manager Kevin Russell had come up with the alternative strategy.

But with the likes of Jim Whitley, Shaun Pejic, Paul Warhurst and Andy Holt all coming through a reserve team match on Wednesday evening, the Dragons squad boasts more experience than has been the case for a number of weeks.

"All at once we have a lot of defenders and midfield players but it would make life a lot easier if Lee is able to play because losing someone like him has a knock-on effect in a number of other positions as well," added Smith.

"And until I'm told otherwise, Lee is available. He played the full 90 minutes last Saturday - unlike Dennis - and he wants to carry on playing.

"We'll know a bit more before the weekend but in an ideal world, Lee would soldier on through Christmas and then I might be able to look at doing something in the January transfer window."

Dean Bennett, who has been used as a striker on a number of occasions, could do a job for Smith at Brunton Park and on-loan Liverpool striker Robbie Foy, who has resumed training after a week-long illness, could also partner Jon Walters up front.

By his own admission, tomorrow's game comes too early for Pejic, who played his first full 90 minutes on Wednesday since suffering medial ligament damage against Doncaster Rovers in August and he said: "I've been involved in four reserve games now but need to be a bit sharper before I'm ready for the senior side. "I've been easing my way back and with every game and every tackle I'm regaining confidence but I don't want to rush things too much.

"I could probably play at a push if I was needed but I think it's going to take a couple of week to get back to where I was at the beginning of the season.

"After the injury problems we've had at the club, I'm sure the gaffer is delighted that he has a few more players to choose from and I'm looking to push on now and be ready to stake my claim for a first team return in the New Year.

"When we began the season with myself, Dave Bayliss and Dennis Lawrence at the back we didn't concede too many goals so it would be nice to think we can get that partnership up and running again.

"Ever since, we've had to chop and change at the back and I know we'll be hoping for a few more clean sheets during the second half of the season."

* Tickets for the Chester City v Wrexham derby match at the Deva Stadium on Wednesday, December 28 will go on sale on Sunday to Racecourse season ticket-holders only. The ticket office will be open from 10am-1pm and demand is expected to be such that few, if any, tickets will later be made available for general sale. All purchasers must produce Voucher C from their season ticket books and sales will be restricted to one ticket per voucher. Prices - seating, £15 (concessions £10, under 16s £6); terracing, £13 (£8, £5).