DARLINGTON boss David Hodgson is a stickler for keeping faith with winning sides, but even he admits it would be "difficult to ignore" the return to fitness of Craig Hignett.

Eighth-placed Quakers meet Bury at the Williamson Motors Stadium tomorrow, fresh from Sunday's impressive 2-1 win at Oxford.

Hodgson, who has named an unchanged line-up on just one occasion this season - at Kidderminster - is contemplating at least one change.

Ian Clark may have done his chances of a rare start no harm after coming off the bench to score, but Hignett is most likely to return to the fray.

The 34-year-old missed out at the Kassam Stadium with a hamstring problem.

He resumed full training this week and looks almost certain to make his fourth start for the club.

"I've always believed in sticking with winning teams, but we only won at Oxford after making substitutions," said Hodgson.

"We made too many mistakes in the first half.

"But we put a lot of hard work in during the second and we got our rewards.

"Obviously Clarky has given me plenty to think about and it would be difficult to ignore Craig Hignett as well.

"We didn't feel it was right to risk Higgy last week, but he's trained this week and there's a good chance he will start against Bury."

Hodgson will also monitor the fitness of skipper Craig Liddle. He is currently undergoing a rehabilitation programme on a knee problem, after recovering from a shoulder problem.

But, to complicate matters, Liddle is still carrying a stomach injury he sustained last season, which may put a hold on his recovery.

"We have to be extremely careful with Craig," admitted Hodgson.

"He has been doing a lot of work on his leg but we need to make sure that doesn't affect a problem he had last year with his stomach.

"Lids is desperate to play and I'm sure he would if I let him. But we cannot afford to take any risks."

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