CITY will have their eyes on the prize when they try to topple MK Dons again and reach the last 16 of the Capital One Cup.

The Bantams will have clocked up around 1,100 miles in eight days after their third successive away game tonight.

Phil Parkinson is calling for one more big effort as they look to finish the road trip as it started – with a win at stadium:mk.

And he wants them to draw inspiration from what happened in 2013, when City stunned English football by going all the way to the final.

Parkinson said: "The lads are in a good place in terms of their approach to this game. We'll be speaking to them about finishing the week well.

"Last week has got to give them confidence and we'll also remind them about what we achieved in this competition a couple of years ago.

"The excitement builds very quickly if we can get through another round. You're then looking at a great chance of getting a really big draw in the next one.

"We've been fortunate this time because we got a big draw earlier. But Leeds was a night that wouldn't have happened if we hadn't done that hard work at Morecambe.

"Playing against Leeds turned out to be one of the highlights of the season so far."

Skipper Stephen Darby is an injury doubt with a tight groin. City will also take another check on Mark Yeates, who suffered again with his shoulder during the Colchester game.

With the squad currently stretched to its limit, Parkinson cannot afford to lose any more players from contention.

But he has given a public show of support to youngster Oliver McBurnie by appearing to scale down his search for a short-term replacement for James Hanson.

Parkinson missed out on an initial target when the player's manager changed his mind but has suggested that he will now keep faith with McBurnie as back-up until Hanson returns.

"I spoke to the chairman yesterday morning and we've said we've got to bring in someone who's significantly ahead of Olly McBurnie," said the Bantams boss.

"Olly is looking good at the moment. He's come off the bench and done well and he's getting stronger by the day.

"We don't want to stop the development of one of our young players just for the sake of it. It's got to be the right player to come in and Hanson is progressing well.

"Olly is a good, young player and he has got that Oldham game under his belt. At some stage, we're going to have to back him to start a game – otherwise what's the point of having him here?

"This might be too soon for Matty Dolan but he should be okay for Saturday. We've also got Alan Sheehan back then, so the squad can certainly look a better one very quickly."

Loan players Jordan Pickford and Mason Bennett are unable to feature tonight, so once again Ben Williams returns in goal.

Parkinson is happy to have such strong back-up as MK Dons chase pay back from their only home defeat of the season.

"I'm pleased that this is another game for Ben to play in and stake his claim," said Parkinson.

"It's crucial because it's a big stage. You need a character in between the sticks and Ben is that."