The Bulls will ponder which central defensive partnership to play. With Dean Beckwith (broken jaw) and Karl Broadhurst (suspended) both out, the Bulls will field John McCombe and one other. The other is expected to be Richard Rose, who played in the centre a couple of times last season, but new loan signing Robbie Threlfall may be drafted in instead. Up front, Steve Guinan remains suspended so Theo Robinson and Trevor Benjamin are expected to continue. Lionel Ainsworth may get a recall on the wing after being rested last weekend.
Darlington will be without £100,000 striker Pawel Abbott. The former Huddersfield man, a former team-mate of John McCombe, has had a knee injury which has kept him out for the last six matches and is still some way off fitness. Julian Joachim and Tim Ryan, who have both missed the last two matches, are both in training and back in contention. Goalkeeper Andy Oakes is only rated 50/50 after missing most of this week's training with a hip injury. Manager Dave Penney is hoping to sign a goalkeeper later today to sit on the bench.