DAVID HODGSON believes his Darlington side are ten wins away from achieving their play-off goal.

With 19 games to go, Hodgson has set a minimum 70-point target to finish in the top seven of League Two.

And with five wins and a draw from their last nine games, sixth-placed Quakers lie eighth in the League Two form table and on track to meet Hodgson's demands.

In December, Hodgson felt a place in the top ten would stand them in good stead going into the New Year.

And, after an unbeaten start to 2005 with two wins and a draw, Quakers take on a sixth-placed Northampton Town side this afternoon with their own promotion aspirations.

Historically, a minimum 70-point finish has been required to seal a place in the play-offs. Last season Lincoln City finished seventh and in the final play-off position on 74 points. In the previous five years, Bury (70), Hartlepool (72 in 2000 and 71 in 2002), Blackpool (72) and Swansea City (7) have all clinched the final berth.

"If we can win ten of our remaining 19 games we will stand a very good chance of reaching the play-offs at least," said Hodgson.

"To finish in the top seven at the end of the season we need to finish on at least 70 points. It was our aim to go into the new year in the top ten and we achieved that. Now we have to look at the next level, which is to finish the season in the top seven."

Northampton have lost just once at the Sixfields Stadium this season and moved three points clear of Quakers with a 2-1 win at Grimsby Town on Tuesday night.

But, speaking from experience, Hodgson insists a trip to Northampton is no more daunting than a visit to a struggling League Two side.

Three days after Quakers were humbled 4-0 at relegation-haunted Shrewsbury, Hodgson's men ended then-league leaders Scunthorpe's 11-match unbeaten run.

"The tough games for us are the ones we think we can go and win easily, which usually cause us problems," said Hodgson. "Hopefully we will prove that against a team of the same standard as ourselves. They're one place above us, but I really believe that if we go about our task in the right way we can beat Northampton."

Former Sunderland midfielder Martin Smith is fit to start for Northampton after recovering from a virus. However, defender Ashley Westwood is a major doubt after sustaining a groin strain at Blundell Park.

Eight-goal striker Clyde Wijnhard is expected to shake off a groin injury in time to face the Cobblers. However, winger Jason St Juste is a major doubt with a groin problem.

Craig Hignett travelled to Northamptonshire with the rest of the squad yesterday and should feature after recovering from a virus.

Midfield pair Adolfo Gregorio and Adrian Webster will keep their places in the starting XI after penning new deals with the club this week. Both players' three-month contracts were due to expire after today's game. But after impressing Hodgson and establishing themselves in the first-team, the duo have signed extensions until the end of the season, with one-year options.

Hodgson joked: "They live together, so we have our very own Tweedle-Dumb and Tweedle-Dee! They came to the club originally on short-term contracts but they've been excellent and deserve longer deals. As long as they keep it together and their work ethics are good we will benefit."

Hodgson feels the success both players have enjoyed has been helped by the presence of stand-in skipper Neil Maddison.

"Maddo plays in behind them and he's been a massive help to them," said Hodgson. "He has the experience to talk both of them through games and it's paid off."

Hodgson has not ruled out adding more experience to his ranks after former Middlesbrough defender Dean Gordon returned to train with Quakers yesterday.

Gordon, who left Grimsby Town last month, turned down a move to Dundee on Thursday and is keen to remain near his Teesside home. The 31-year-old is expected to join Quakers on a pay-as-you-play basis next week. "I thought Dean was off to Dundee," said Hodgson. "But while he was in Dundee he had a last-minute change of heart.

"He called me on Thursday night and asked me if he could come back and train with us.

"Had one of our lads gone out this week we could have offered him a contract. That hasn't happened and I have to be thoughtful because my main priority is to bring another striker in."

* Lithuanian international forward Grigalevicius Mindaugas will link up with Quakers next week to begin a trial.

The 23-year-old began his career in his homeland with FK Zalgiris Vilinus, before moving to the VB Vagur in the Faroe Islands this year. Mindaugas impressed on trial with Quakers this season and will play in a behind-closed-doors game with Leeds on Wednesday.

Read more about the Quakers here.