DAVID STOCKDALE will make his fifth start of the season at Rotherham United this afternoon - with the unlikely backing of the man he is currently keeping out of the Darlington side.

Much-travelled goalkeeper Andy Oakes was brought in by Quakers boss Dave Penney during the summer from Swansea City on a free transfer.

After failing to hold down a first-team place after just one season in south Wales, Oakes moved to the North-East as Darlington's first choice as a replacement for the freed Sam Russell.

However, things haven't exactly gone according to plan for the 30-year-old since joining his eighth Football League club.

In fact, the giant goalkeeper has just 63 minutes of first-team action under his belt this season after, in what he describes as 'taking one for the team', he was sent off in the opening-day win over Wrexham.

With Darlington leading 1-0, Oakes was dismissed for a professional foul on Michael Proctor.

From the resulting free-kick on the edge of the Quakers box, stand-in replacement Stockdale produced a top-drawer save to deny former Hartlepool and Sunderland striker Proctor.

Since then he hasn't looked back.

Oakes, on the other hand, has been sitting on the bench.

It's not a situation he is entirely happy with, but given the performances of Stockdale, one he is prepared to accept.

"You can't change a winning team and David is in the side because he deserves to be there," said Oakes.

"The way David is playing at the moment is unbelievable and I'd like to think I have played some part in keeping him up at that level, by the way we train everyday and the way we work together.

"It's like anything in football, nothing is for certain, whether you're No.1 or No.50. Whoever is performing well will be playing in the first-team.

"I started the first game of the season, we won the game, I got sent off and David came on and did superbly.

"It's very healthy when the manager has two good goalkeepers to choose from."

While Oakes will watch today's 1pm clash at Millmoor from the bench, he has no regrets, despite his short-lived Quakers debut.

"It is frustrating because all I want to do is play," admitted the Northwich-born keeper.

"I took one for the team with the sending off and we ended up winning the game.

"We could have gone on to lose if they had scored so that's the way it is. It's all about the team."

Darlington are yet to lose in the league this season, winning two and drawing two, but Penney believes that record will be put to the test by a strong Rotherham side, who were relegated from League One last season.

The Millers, who are managed by former Manchester United striker Mark Robins, have won just one of their opening four league games but Penney expects a difficult test of Darlington's promotion credentials.

The four teams who come down usually do well," said Penney.

"Rotherham are going to be one of the teams to look out for this season.

"There is a long way to go, but this will be the toughest game so far.

"They've added some experienced players, like ourselves, and the onus will be on them to come at us. It won't be an easy trip, that's for sure.

"We've drawn our last two and people are saying we need to start winning again.

"We don't need to win there, we just need to keep picking points up.

"We're averaging two points a game and if we keep that up we will be promoted."

Despite taking eight points from a possible 12 in their opening four games, Penney does not feel he has yet to get the best out of his new-look side.

He said: "I think there's more to come. Defensively we've had three clean sheets out of four, and we've scored seven goals in four games.

"But I certainly feel there's still a lot we need to improve on and that will only come with the more games we play as a unit."

Penney may hand Neil Austin a recall after the full-back returned to training following an ankle injury this week.

Scott Wiseman is also back in contention.