AFC Wimbledon manager Neal Ardley is using the forthcoming FA Cup tie with Liverpool as an incentive to drive his players on over the busy festive period.

That period begins tomorrow as the Dons travel to York for their fourth clash of the season with the Minstermen having dumped them out of the cup after a replay.

They went on to knock out Gareth Ainsworth’s Wycombe Wanderers last weekend and were handed the mouth-watering date with the boys from Anfield live on BBC One on January 5.

There’s plenty of football to be played before then though and Ardley says the players earn a starting spot against Brendan Rodgers’ Reds in the coming fixtures.

“You’ve got to be careful not to have an after the Lord Mayor’s show scenario,” Ardley told Dons Player after an incredible week for the club.

“That’s my job to make sure they’re ready. I expect the boys to go out and put in a high level of performance. You can never guarantee the result but you can guarantee a high level of performance.

Coming to Kingsmeadow: Steven Gerrard's Liverpool are due to play the Dons in January

"York City are going to have to earn anything they get. There will be no excuses, the players will be ready to rumble when they get up there.

“I’ve got to try my best to use the Liverpool game as an incentive to everybody on the training pitch. We’ve got two games close together on Boxing Day and on the 28th of December and we’re probably not going to be able to field the same side in both of those so everybody is potentially going to get their chances.”

Jack Smith missed the win over Wycombe with a thigh problem and is still not ready to take on York as he remains confined to the treatment table with veteran Andy Frampton.

“Jack is recovering,” Ardley said of the attacking full-back.

“We’ll get him re-scanned next week to see how he’s recovering. Jack will be one of those slowly, slowly ones. Andy Frampton had some fluid drained from his ankle, he’s in a boot, so we’ll give him some time to go away and clear his head and think about what he wants to do. He might need surgery, he might not. Andy’s got to make that decision. Everyone’s good other than them.”