DARLINGTON'S whistle-stop tour of League Two grounds checks in at Cheltenham Town tonight and manager David Hodgson has warned his travel-weary squad fitness is the key.

Quakers will play their fifth game in 13 days just 72 hours after their last visit to the South-West, when they were knocked out of the FA Cup by Yeovil Town.

When Hodgson's men return to the North-East in the early hours of tomorrow they will have covered over 1,700 miles in the last ten days - the distance between Darlington and Moscow - after the long hauls to Swansea and Yeovil.

Both trips ended in defeat and came either side of Saturday's humiliating 3-0 defeat at home to Lincoln City.

"We've had some difficult games and a lot of travelling, and our biggest test against Cheltenham will be our fitness,'' said Hodgson.

"It's another long trip for us but it's no excuse and we'll be doing everything to ensure we prepare ourselves in the correct way.

"I don't think many other teams will play five games in 13 days but that is what we've done."

Hodgson and his squad set off for Gloucestershire this morning knowing that a win could lift them eight places to fifth in League Two tonight.

Despite Tuesday night's result at Yeovil, the performance at Huish Park provided enough evidence for Hodgson to suggest Quakers can mount a serious challenge for the play-offs.

"We were fantastic in the first half and gave Yeovil a real lesson in football," said Hodgson. "They scored a great goal in the second half but I thought we more than matched them and were unlucky not to get something out of the game.

"Everybody was panic-stricken after the Lincoln result but that was one game. Prior to that we'd beaten Wycombe and Rushden and narrowly lost at Swansea.

"The Lincoln game was a one-off and I thought we put a lot of things right at Yeovil. If we can show the same kind of work-rate at Cheltenham we will have no problem."

With defender Matt Clarke serving a one-match ban after reaching five bookings, Hodgson will make at least one change from the side which lost at Yeovil. David McGurk and Joe Kendrick will compete for Clarke's place.

Midfielder Neil Maddison sustained a head injury at Yeovil but will be fit to play.

While Quakers aim for their highest league position of the season, sixth-placed Cheltenham could go fourth.

Striker Kayode Odejayi will not be considered, despite resuming full training this week after two months out with a knee injury.

Midfielders John Finnigan and JJ Melligan are fit after recovering from neck and thigh injuries respectively. Graham Fyfe and Michael Taylor are both struggling with ankle injuries.

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