Darlington manager Gary Bennett will rely on the youngsters tonight in their LDV Vans Trophy tie at York.
The injury crisis worsened yesterday, which means Bennett could be without seven recognised first teamers at Bootham Crescent.
That will open the door for teenagers Graham Liddle, Lee-Paul Scroggins and Adam Marsh to make their full debuts ahead of the crucial trips to Plymouth and Exeter in the next seven days.
Bennett was already without Gary Himsworth, Jesper Hjorth, Paul Heckingbottom and Neil Aspin for tonight's game, but now Glenn Naylor, John Williams and Brian Atkinson will probably also be ruled out.
Bennett believes a good result will do morale and confidence the world of good, but he has also got to be cautious with the injuries in view of the hectic League programme ahead.
He has also got to balance those thoughts with the fact that three players are one booking away from a suspension.
"We're stretched at the moment," said Bennett. "It will be a matter of seeing who's available to play at around lunchtime.
"We want to do well against York, but we've got two big games coming up at Plymouth and Exeter and we need players who'll be able to play in both games. This is the sort of thing that happens when you have a small squad.
"Last season, there were around 30 players in the squad, but this year we've got around ten fewer. These are the sort of things I've got to deal with - I can't be selective like we might have been in the past."
Defender Liddle and midfielder Scroggins have yet to make their first team debuts, while striker Marsh was signed from Worksop two months ago.
Quakers (from): Collett, Van Der Geest, Brumwell, Reed, C Liddle, G Liddle, Kilty, Elliott, Walklate, Tait, Gray, Hodgson, Campbell, Scroggins, Marsh, McMahon, Williamson
York, meanwhile, could field most of their reserves, as their second string haven't played for almost two months, and they suffered a postponement at Stoke City yesterday.
York have also reduced admission prices for tonight's game.
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