DARLINGTON will be heading across the Pennines for their crucial six-pointer at Carlisle this afternoon, bidding to return from Brunton Park with at least one point.

The Quakers have made avoiding defeat their number one priority as they make the short journey to Cumbria, five points and three places above the league's bottom club.

They know a draw or a second away league win of the season will give them some valuable breathing space ahead of their trip to Torquay and their local derby against Hartlepool next week.

But a defeat will certainly increase the pressure on them, especially as they have another three away games in the next fortnight.

And there's also a strong possibility that the game will have to wait until another day, because the Brunton Park pitch is frozen.

Manager Gary Bennett is looking to his players to reproduce the character they have shown in the last two matches against a team run by his old Sunderland team mate Ian Atkins, who narrowly failed to stop Chester going down to the Conference last season.

"The aim is not to lose," he said. "We will be happy with a draw, and even happier with a win. The lads have shown some good character recently.

"They held on well against Cheltenham last week, and they battled back against Macclesfield last Saturday after a bad start.

"But they must do the same again today, because it is going to be a tough game.

"The players know what they have to do, not only today, but over the rest of the season.

"We don't have to rely on anybody else, and it's still all in our own hands. Ideally, we'd like to pick up six points from these next two matches, but we'll be happy with four."

Bennett's biggest problem today is a long injury list, which will meanreshuffling his defence, particularly at full-back if he decides to play a flat back four.

Assistant manager Mick Tait believes that an improvement in the players' confidence will work wonders.

"When you're near the bottom, it doesn't take too long for confidence to go," he said.

"You can't dish confidence out. A lot of it comes from hard work, and doing things right and properly.

"Confidence can improve during the course of a game, just by getting things right on the pitch.

"In adversity, sometimes confidence can improve. For example, look at Hull, where they have had their backs to the wall, but it's brought them all together."

Tait thinks all the players in the side should be responsible for creating scoring opportunities. Quakers have scored four goals in their last six league and cup matches, two of which have been twice-taken penalties, and the other two own goals. "There's no point in changing the forwards every week, if they're not getting chances. You have to make sure that they have the ammunition first, and that's the responsibility for all the team."

New signing Kirk Jackson might get the chance to impress this afternoon, although he will probably have to be content with a place on the bench.

Young goalkeeper Keith Finch will take his place on the bench for the crucial clash.