DARLINGTON'S Third Division future could all hinge on the next three days, according to boss David Hodgson.

The massive Easter weekend begins with today's visit of fifth-placed Mansfield, before Hodgson takes his relegation-threatened side to Southend on Bank Holiday Monday.

With six games to go Quakers remain part of a relegation equation which still contains ten sides.

But with a third of the remaining fixtures being played over the next 72 hours, Hodgson believes the next few days are going to be crucial to their survival aspirations.

"After the Southend game there will be five or six teams left in it at the bottom and hopefully we're not one of them," said Hodgson.

"This is a massive weekend for Darlington Football Club."

Fifth-bottom Quakers are just one precarious point above the bottom two after taking one win from their last five.

But despite their slender lead, Hodgson believes his side hold the upper hand in the battle for survival.

"The good thing is we still have the situation in our own hands, but we have to get back to winning ways," said Hodgson.

"I would be happy if we could come away from the next two matches with four points because that means all the other sides below us would have to win both games.

"If we come away with six points from the next two matches we're as good as safe."

Hodgson was at Field Mill on Tuesday night to run the rule over this afternoon's opponents.

And despite seeing Mansfield sweep Oxford aside in a 3-1 win, Hodgson has no fear about the task ahead.

"Mansfield have got an awful lot to play for but I know if they're at their best and we're at our best, we will win it," said Hodgson.

"Keith Curle said that was the best they'd played this season against Oxford. I know we can play a lot better than they did."

And Hodgson still hopes to have influential defender Craig Liddle in today's line-up.

The 32-year-old has an "80 percent chance" of starting after picking up a stomach strain in last week's defeat at Boston.

"Lids came through training but I know he is playing within himself," said Hodgson. "We've got to be thoughtful about this because Lids is the kind of player we can do without losing right now."

David McGurk is standing by if Liddle fails to pass a late fitness test.

Hodgson is likely to keep faith with a three-man attack despite last week's non-scoring defeat at Boston.

On-loan Middlesbrough striker Danny Graham will start his first game on home soil alongside top scorer Barry Conlon and Neil Teggart as Hodgson seeks goals.

"We've got to think positive and be positive," said Hodgson.

"Apart from the Cambridge game we have been outstanding defensively but our strikers have to match them.

"At Boston they only had one shot at goal but that was enough.

"Our problem was that we couldn't put the ball in the back of the net, which we have to start doing."

Mansfield boss Curle, an England international under Graham Taylor, said: "Darlington are in the wrong half of the table but we know we still have to earn the right to play our football.

"We've had them watched and they play to their strengths, though they seem to change their systems a lot.

"They do have weaknesses, but we know Darlington are no mugs."

Hodgson last night revealed that Leandro Scartascini's return to Argentina is only a short-term arrangement. "Because of the costs in providing accommodation for Leandro we have had to let him go home," said Hodgson.

The 19-year-old has been on trial at the Reynolds Arena for three weeks and Hodgson added: "The lad has done very well and we would like to take another look .

"We have arranged for him to come back next Friday."

Read more about the Quakers here.