Darlington have scrapped their proposed pre-season trip to China, instead choosing to host Premiership new boys Sunderland in their first friendly of the summer.

Two months ago Quakers announced plans to play three games between July 10 and July 20 against Chinese Premiership team Shenzhen Kingway, and the club had also invited fans to travel with them.

Darlington were to be joined on the trip to Shunde, in the Guangdong province of Southern China, where Shenzhen Kingway are based, by the Darlington Partnership and Hummersknott School and Language College, which already has links with schools in Shunde.

Earlier this year Jon Sotnick, Quakers' chief executive, and Steve Rose, the chief executive of Darlington Partnership, travelled to Shunde to meet politicians. On returning, Sotnick said he hoped the tour would kick-start a raft of business and education opportunities, not only for Darlington, but for the North-East as a whole.

But that has been shelved and instead of playing Shenzhen Kingway, Darlington will face Roy Keane's Sunderland in what will be both clubs' first pre-season friendly of the summer.

Sotnick said: "The opportunity to host Sunderland was just too good to miss. We will look to go to China possibly at the end of the next campaign in a post-season tour.

"Our relationship with China will be based on longevity and I'm sure there will be a level of understanding at their end."

Keane will send his first team squad to play in front of what could be the biggest crowd at Quakers' four-year-old home.

Darlington officials will now seek permission to increase the capacity from 10,000 to 15,000 for the all-ticket game on Wednesday, July 18 (7.30pm).

Sunderland are to receive an initial 5,000-ticket allocation which will be increased if Quakers receive permission to increase capacity for the night.

Sotnick, said: "This is a fantastic coup with Sunderland agreeing to bring their first-team. I am sure by the time the game comes Roy Keane will have brought in some exciting new players for the Premiership. But it's not just about Sunderland, it will also be an excellent test for Dave Penney and his side.''

Tickets will cost £10 for adults and £5 for concessions and under-16s.

Quakers are also sending a team to face Northern League side Darlington RA this summer.

* Boston's ten-point deduction will apply to this season's tally, the Football League have confirmed. The Pilgrims' Company Voluntary Arrangement was activated in the final seconds of their final-day defeat at Wrexham, which ended their five-year stay in League Two.