Darlington will be looking to get their season up and running at home to Cheltenham on Saturday.
Quakers looking to break their duck
Darlington will be looking to get their season up and running at home to Cheltenham on Saturday.
The Quakers have endured a torrid start to their League Two campaign, and remain pointless four games in.
The Robins, in contrast, have made impressive progress so far, with last weekend's 5-4 defeat to Bradford the only blot on their copybook.
Darlington team news
Skipper Steve Foster could be recalled to Darlington's starting line-up this weekend.
The veteran centre-back underwent surgery on his ankle in the summer and is being eased back into action, with boss Colin Todd resting him for the last two games.
But Foster could return in place of youngster Matt Plummer if Todd decides to turn to experience to end a run of five defeats in their opening five games of the season.
Full-back Paul Arnison (hamstring) will play no part against the Robins as he is still a week away from full fitness.
Midfielder Chris Lumsdon is also sidelined with a back injury, and although teenage winger Josh Gray is back in training following a hamstring injury, he is not yet ready to return.
Cheltenham team news
Cheltenham have a host of influential absentees for the trip to the Darlington Arena.
Captain Shane Duff has had a scan on his calf problem and is currently waiting for the results, on-loan Oliver Bozanic has returned to parent club Reading for treatment on knee ligament damage and fellow midfielder Michael Pook is still around two weeks away with a similar problem.
Striker Elvis Hammond has damaged ankle ligaments and - although the problem is not as bad as first feared - he will not be available this weekend.
Defender Drissa Diallo is rated 50/50 as he looks to get over an ankle injury of his own.
A new-look back four is expected to take to the field at Darlington as a result of the club's mounting injury crisis, but manager Martin Allen will be able to call on midfielder Frankie Artus after the 20-year-old returned to Whaddon Road on a one-month loan deal from Bristol City.
Ajet Shehu is not ready for involvement, however, as he lacks match fitness following his arrival on a non-contract basis.
The Kosovo-born defender was released by Tottenham at the end of last season.
