Under-fire Tommy Taylor is set to hand Clark Keltie his full debut when Darlington travel to Stockport County in the LDV Vans Trophy first round tonight.
The 19-year-old has spent most of his time in the reserves since joining the club from local amateur side Walker Central at the start of last season.
However, the midfielder is likely to benefit from Taylor's decision to give some of his fringe players a run-out with Danny Mellanby also likely to figure against Carlton Palmer's side, who were relegated from the First Division last season.
After a nightmare seven months on the sidelines with a back injury, Mellanby recently returned to first-team action and has figured in Quakers' last two fixtures as a second half substitute.
He is expected to lead the attack alongside Barry Conlon.
Quakers will be without skipper Craig Liddle, who is ruled out with a thigh injury, and Stuart Whitehead will be rested after he made a surprise return to action in Saturday's defeat to Boston.
"Lidds is out for ten days and I won't be including Stuart Whitehead because he needs a bit more time after his hamstring injury," said Taylor, who is expected to recall Matt Clarke alongside David McGurk or Adam Reed for a new-look defensive partnership.
With just one win in their last six, Stockport are in a similar position to Quakers and both managers will be using tonight's game to iron out problems.
Taylor said: "Every game is a tough game. There's no easy games in whatever division you play in. I wanted to put a few of the younger players in but a few of the older ones have to stand up and be counted.
"The more experienced players were here when Gary Bennett was here and the boot's on the other foot with me now, but the players are there to do a job and they've got to go out and do it."
Tickets for tonight's game have been reduced to £10.00 adults, £8.00 OAPs and £4.00 for juniors.
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