Basement boys Darlington go head to head with fellow strugglers Northampton tonight, with both sides having points to prove.

Quakers boss Mick Tait has yet to see his side record a point this season, with opponents Northampton in the same predicament, suffering two straight defeats.

And Tait believes the incentive is there for both teams as they aim to put their early season jitters behind them.

"They've lost two as well so it's going to be a tough game," said Tait.

"I know there's only two games gone in the season and people are already going on about how bad things are but that's the way life is."

And while Tait reluctantly accepts Quakers' position after two disappointing displays in the League, he is confident of overcoming their current blip, having already seen his side sweep First Division Bradford City aside in the Carling Cup.

"We've got to just concentrate on our game, get it right and be a lot more lively than we were against Kidderminster," said Tait. "People can talk all they want about Bradford but it's going to be confined to history unless we can repeat it. We need to get as near to that performance as we can."

Martin Wilkinson's Northampton are being strongly tipped to make a swift return to the Second Division after their relegation last season, especially after a busy summer in the transfer market, which has seen the arrival of former Sunderland striker Martin Smith from Huddersfield, as well as the £165,000 signing of Josh Low from Oldham.

"They've spent a lot of money in the summer and they need to show some kind of return on that," said Tait. "It's going to be a very difficult game but we just need to do the job right."

And providing Quakers do set about tonight's task in the right way, Tait is confident his side will be returning home with their first points of the season.

"We won't be setting out to get a point, we're going there to get all three," said Tait. "If we come away with just a point I would have to take it but we'll definitely be going to get more than that."

Defender Joey Hutchinson is Tait's only injury concern ahead of tonight's clash at the Sixfields Stadium.

He is still struggling with a hamstring injury and is unlikely to travel. However, Tait is boosted by the return to fitness of Gary Pearson and Matt Clarke, as well as Danny Mellanby, who may have to settle for a place on the bench with Glen Robson expected to partner Barry Conlon in attack.

Read more about the Quakers here.