Manager Steve Kittrick insists his players must step up to the mark and earn their money as the Lions chase promotion into the Blue Square Premier.

Guiseley were handily placed to make a tilt for the title but have dropped points in recent weeks and tomorrow’s opponents Hyde are favourites to go up automatically.

The play-offs look the Lions’ mostly likely route out of the Blue Square Bet North but Kittrick has not give up home hope of claiming top spot and has challenged his players to respond.

He said: “We have some big players on big money and it’s time they showed more than just spirit and determination. We have to see the quality these players have in the tight games we have coming up.”

Former Bantams loan player Jason Price made his Guiseley debut last Saturday in an unusual line-up as Kittrick abandoned his favoured 4-3-3 formation to go 4-4-2 against Histon.

But he dismissed speculation it was tailored to his new signing, saying: “We went with Jason and Jamie Walshaw as a front two because in the reverse fixture they had a 4-5-1 and were difficult to break down and swamped the midfield. But Histon started with 4-3-3 so we changed our formation midway through the first half.

“None of that helped us settle as a team and it certainly wouldn’t have helped Jason. It was his first game for us and he hadn’t even trained with the lads.”

As Price adapts to his new club, Kittrick believes he will be a big asset and the striker opened his account in the midweek 2-1 victory against Harrogate Town.