FEETHAMS was a fortress when Darlington reached the Third Division play-off final in 2000 and now, six years on, manager David Hodgson is once again counting on home rule.

It wasn't until April that an away side left County Durham with all three points during the 1999/00 season. After 22 games without loss, promotion rivals Northampton inflicted Quakers first defeat on home soil.

But, far more importantly, Steve Howard's only goal of the game handed Northampton the onus to go on and claim the third automatic place Quakers had occupied for the previous two months.

This time around Hodgson's men have crept back into promotion contention thanks to their best ever home run at the 96.6 TFM Darlington Arena.

Last week's win at Oxford lifted Quakers back into the top seven for the first time since September. But it is their home form - unbeaten in their last nine - that is largely responsible for the recent revival.

That stretch may bear no comparison with the 15 games Quakers went unbeaten at the same stage at the turn of the Millennium, but such is the standard of League Two football, any side capable of stringing a run together are in with a top-seven shout.

The visit of struggling Mansfield Town this afternoon represents an ideal opportunity for Quakers to extend their run to ten games and strengthen their foothold near the top of the table.

But, with 17 games remaining, Hodgson remains typically cautious, saying: "The run we're on hasn't achieved anything, it's just taken us up to seventh.

"I want to go another nine or ten games unbeaten. It's a tall order, but they've proved they're capable of doing it.

"They've got themselves into a position and its up to them now.

"If they can perform to the same level or better then there is no reason why we should drop back out of that top seven."

When they last slipped out of the play-off zone four months ago, Quakers went on to win just twice in 16 attempts - an alarming slump which saw them swap sixth for 14th in League Two and some fans even calling for Hodgson to go.

"The football has got better and fans have rightly applauded it," said Hodgson.

"I'm not a manager who sits in the dugout waiting for the next job to come along. Darlington Football Club means a lot to me and I want things to work as much as anybody.

"Whether it be at Darlington or Chelsea, fans are going to get angry and frustrated. My only gripe was that people didn't have the common sense to see that we have a very young side.

"It wasn't a case of not being able to do the job, they just hadn't knitted.

"I will argue and fight with anybody to protect them."

Kasper Schmeichel will make his final loan appearance for Quakers following Sam Russell's return to fitness.

Hodgson will make a late check on the fitness of Phil Stamp after the midfielder sustained a stomach strain at Oxford. The 30-year-old is back in training and should recover in time to keep his place in Hodgson's starting XI.

Quakers are also without winger Neil Wainwright, who remains sidelined with a groin problem.

On-loan Everton striker Paul Hopkins is back in the reckoning after been left out at Oxford.

"We switched formations at Oxford and that's why we left Hoppy out," explained Hodgson.

Hopkins and Burnley striker Kyle Lafferty are due to return to their respective clubs on February 4.

"Well see how they do this weekend and then we will talk about what to do next sometime next week," said Hodgson.

"They've given us extra attacking options, but I have to look at the bigger picture and consider the financial burden on us for the rest of the season."

If Hopkins returns to Hodgson's starting line-up today, Quakers could revert to a 3-5-2 formation.

Mansfield boss Peter Shirtliff, a former Sheffield Wednesday teammate of Hodgson, took over the Field Mill reins following Carlton Palmer's resignation in September.

Despite an improvement in results recently, the Stags lie a lowly 18th in League Two. This afternoon they will be without 15-goal leading scorer Richard Barker, suspended following his sending off in the midweek defeat to Chester. Despite Barker's absence, Hodgson has warned his side against any complacency if they are to build on their recent run of form.

* Former Darlington loan-striker Tresor Kandol has signed a three-year contract with Barnet in a £50,000 deal. The Bees pipped League Two rivals Leyton Orient for the 24-year-old's signature.

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