Darlington have made five changes to their line-up for this evening's match at Notts County with Steve Foster not even in the squad.

The captain is the most notable absentee from the side which crashed to a 4-0 home defeat to Morecambe last Tuesday.

Also dropped is keeper Nick Liversedge so Ashlee Jones comes in for his debut and while making their first appearances for the club are new signings Danny Hall and Paul Harsley.

Seventeen-year-old right-back Corey Barnes has been taken out of the firing line by manager Steve Staunton who has rested the youngster, and also not selected are Nathan Mulligan and David Davis.

Clubs are restricted to using a maximum of five loan players per match so Davis does not even make the bench. But veteran striker Lee Thorpe is in the squad for the first time since early October afrer recovering from a hernia operation.

There is no place for new defender Andrew Milne who will complete his loan move from Leeds later this week.

Danny Groves and Mor Diop are also recalled by Staunton who is hoping to see his side avoid defeat away from home for only the second time this season.

But that will be a tough task as big-spending Notts County are unbeaten at Meadow Lane while the bookies class Quakers as 10-1 to win this evening.

In the Magpies side is former Darlington midfielder Ricky Ravenhill while keeper Russell Hoult, who was on loan at The Northern Echo Arena this season, is a sub.

Referee: Graham Salisbury (Preston)

Notts County: Schmeichel, Moloney, Lee, Thompson, Clapham, Ritchie, Ravenhill, Westcarr, Davies, Hughes, Rodgers. Subs: Hoult (gk), Edwards, Hamshaw, Hawley, Jones, Akinbiyi, Fox

Darlington: Jones, Miller, Hall, Giddings, Groves, Harsley, Hogg, J Smith, Thomas, Collins, Diop. Subs: Liversedge (gk), Bower, G Smith, Gray, Mulligan, Main, Thorpe