Darlington have four of the Third Division's best players.

That's according to Tommy Taylor and if his opinion is anything to go by Quakers stand a great chance of winning promotion this season.

That's because last season Plymouth Argyle and Luton Town players dominated the PFA Third Division team of the year award which is no coincidence as the two teams filled the first and second positions.

Taylor labels a seal of approval on his fantastic four - Andy Collett, Craig Liddle, Ian Clark and Barry Conlon - and backs up his claim with foundation and without hesitation.

He states: "There wouldn't be many more players in the division you would want instead of Conlon. Who would you swap Conlon for?

"Big lad, knocks defenders out of the way, he'll win balls in the air and he'll get you a goal. Still young, even though he looks 30!

"Who would you swap Andy Collett for?

"Fantastic keeper, back from his injury now, I'd rather have him than anyone.

"The same goes for Liddle. He's one of the best defenders in the division because he reads the game, wins tackles and headers. Very committed too.

"Wouldn't want any other defender at the club.

"Clarky as well, he's another one who'd you'd have to pick. Look at the amount of goals he scored last season, and he wasn't up-front half the time because we had to play him in lots of positions because of injuries to people.

"He'd be in the squad," says Taylor as he begins to imagine his divisional best starting XI.

Taylor, like all managers in the Nationwide League at this time of year, has his sights on promotion.

"If I said we just wanted to stay in this division I wouldn't be doing my job properly," he admits, before assuring: "My aim is getting promoted, simple as that."

Despite having a squad both smaller and younger than last year's crop, Taylor genuinely believes he can reach the play-offs with Darlington this season.

After all, it wouldn't be the first time he's taken an underdog to brink of promotion.

Twice in three seasons Taylor steered Leyton Orient to a play-off final.

He said: "I think if we finish in the top seven it will have been a great season and that's how I've always felt at every club I've been at because if you get in the play-offs you've a hell of a chance of promotion.

"I'm pleased that everybody in the team is a good passer of the ball.

"I want everybody to do the right things at the right time, I want everybody to organise each other so that everybody knows what each other is going to do in every part of the pitch.

"They've worked hard in pre-season but they've enjoyed it. Mick Tait took them on a run last Saturday morning and they were a minute quicker than when they first did at the start of pre-season.

"I think we've got a good enough squad.

"We've just got to keep everybody fit, keep everybody away from silly bookings and I think we'll do well."

It would be wrong to say Taylor believes he's got the division's best team and skips into training every day with a spring in his step because he's anticipating a title-charge.

He's realistic enough to accept there are teams with better squads.

But he is pleased with his charges, although he knows there is room for improvement.

"I've brought four players in since I've been at the club, Ian Clark and the three new boys this summer. I'm happy with what I've got - Gary Bennett signed some good players,'' he said.

"If there's anything we're lacking, it's a defensive midfielder because we've only got one in Neil Maddison. That is why I tried to get (Stuart) Whitehead from Carlisle."

The bookies are backing the usual suspects to do well with Darlington last seen at 18-1 in the title odds.

But if Quakers' very own fantastic four perform, Taylor could follow the path he first trod at Orient.

The one leading to the play-offs.

Orient are amongst his tips this year: "You've got to say Hull will do well because they've spent a bit of money, Hartlepool, and Leyton Orient will be there or thereabouts.

"But this is a great chance for the players to do well this season - I really think it is."

Read more about the Quakers here.