Darlington face their toughest away game of the season so far when they go to fourth-placed Leyton Orient today but manager Gary Bennett is relishing the challenge.

The Londoners have dropped only four points in ten league games at Brisbane Road this season and they haven't lost to Darlington on home soil in 34 years.

Quakers have won just once on their travels this season in the league - at Southend in August - but Bennett feels Quakers are starting to turn the corner.

New signing Dave McMahon from Newcastle, who spent a month on loan at Falkirk this season, will probably figure at some stage today, though Bennett has almost a fully fit squad at his disposal for the first time in a couple of months.

"That will make a big difference to us," he said.

"Paul Heckingbottom, Gary Himsworth, and Stuart Elliott are all back in the squad now after being out for various reasons over the past few weeks.

"And with the new striker coming in we have options up front. My hands were tied before - I could only use Glenn Naylor and Kevin Kyle up front because of the injuries we had."

Irishman McMahon is not eligible for Tuesday's FA Cup tie at Luton but it seems certain he will be playing a major role up front soon, especially if Kyle goes back to Sunderland after his current loan period ends.

Bennett is hoping the trip to the Orient will be a positive turning point in Darlington's season, in contrast to their last visit in March. Then a 2-1 defeat ended a six-match winning run and Quakers won just twice more in the league to eventually blow promotion.

"The last couple of games have gone for us. We played well against Luton and Mansfield and, for a change, decisions haven't been going against us.

"We kept a clean sheet last week against Luton and that gave everybody a confidence boost. But the players must continue to defend well We just need that little bit of luck in front of the opposition goal now.

"No away game is easy, but it's down to the way we tackle it - and I'm sure we'll do that properly."

Public relations director Luke Raine believes Quakers can still figure in the promotion race.

Quakers go into today's game 13 points behind the Londoners.

But Raine, who has been working alongside Bennett to bring in new players in recent weeks, said: "Promotion still isn't out of the question.

"Every season, somebody comes out of the pack with a late run and makes an impact on the play-off and promotion race.

"We'll need to pick up at least 40 points in the second half of the season, but that can be done.

"There is enough ability in the squad for us to be higher than we are in the table.

"One or two players aren't performing at the top of their game at the moment, but most of the players are doing well.

" It's a matter of trying to instill a confidence and self-belief in themselves."

There has been transfer speculation this week about at least one more player coming to Feethams as well as McMahon, and Raine said: "We're trying our best to strengthen the squad.

"We know that we need strikers who can solve our scoring problems and we've been working hard on players over the last few weeks.

"The manager has been to lots of games and together we've made plenty of enquiries.

"If the right player is available, then the chairman has said that he will spend some money on a transfer fee if he has to.