PHIL Parkinson is ready to get tough with City's under-performers for the Roses battle at Rochdale tomorrow.

Parkinson is demanding "passion and commitment" from their shortest trip of the season as the Bantams try to revive a rotten week.

The City chief is unhappy about successive losses to Peterborough and Colchester and will leave his team in no doubt about what he expects from Spotland.

Goalkeeper Ben Williams is poised for a recall after Brad Jones' costly mistake for the opening goal on Tuesday. The Australian was also at fault last weekend.

Others under threat could include James Hanson, who missed a close-range sitter immediately before Colchester scored. The targetman has started every league game but has looked out of sorts.

Strike partner Devante Cole has also struggled to make his mark in the back-to-back defeats after the prolific opening weeks of his City career.

Parkinson dropped Gary Liddle and Mark Marshall in midweek and has shown he is not reluctant to make a big call if needed. He insists the side selected to face fifth-placed Dale must be up for a scrap.

"We've got to pick a team which I believe is going to play with the passion and commitment required for a local derby," said Parkinson.

"We need a team that is going to compete for every ball and be prepared to chase for lost causes; a team that is going to play with real heart.

"At times this season, we've done that. You look back to Oldham away, where we were closing down brilliantly straight away. That's the type of start we need this game.

"We've got to pick a team that understands this is a Roses clash and there's going to be a sold-out crowd.

"Rochdale are a team that start quickly, they play very direct from the off and try to turn you round. You could see that when they were 3-0 up very early against Shrewsbury in midweek.

"We need to be ready for a real battle, first and foremost."

Parkinson, who is assessing Rory McArdle's recovery from illness, wants a response in the same vein as the clean sheet at Barnsley in August. City hit back from a poor opening fortnight to the season by slugging out a goalless draw at Oakwell.

The Bantams boss said: "I'm looking forward to the game. Like everybody else, I'm always disappointed when we get beaten – but we've got to be ready to roll our sleeves up and deliver a proper response.

"I want a performance similar to when we went to Barnsley. Our effort, drive and physicality that day were great. That's the type of display we need to get back to.

"There are going to be a lot of supporters and we need them to get behind the team with real determination. But they will only respond to an energetic team fully committed to the cause."

Meanwhile, City cannot ask for next weekend's home clash with Blackpool to be called off.

Three players will be missing on international commitments – James Meredith, Lee Evans and Reece Burke – which would usually allow their club to request a postponement under Football League rules.

But Burke is classed as a youth loan and the league last night confirmed that does not meet the criteria.