Craig Liddle will today name his first Darlington XI since being named caretaker manager. But he has already decided to welcome back into the fold the squad's outcasts.

Sam Russell and John Campbell had both been jettisoned during the final weeks of Mark Cooper's tenure with the goalkeeper replaced by Ole Soderberg.

But Liddle has resolved to wipe the slate clean so Russell returns for today's FA Cup tie at home to Hinckley United, while striker John Campbell is in contention to start.

However, Darlington will be without Michael Brough, who suffered an ankle injury in a tackle by Liam Hatch in training, while Exodus Geohagon has been "ill for three or four days," explained Liddle.

Geohagon's absence means he will not be cup-tied and neither will on loan Chris Atkinson as Huddersfield have denied him permission to play.

Even without the enforced absences it is likely Darlington would have made changes following the manner of last Saturday's defeat at Braintree.

As with most away games, Liddle was not present due to his youth team duties, but he has watched Darlington at home this season.

He said: "We (youth team and first team) don't train at the same place and the only time I've seen them is on match days so I told the lads on Thursday that I'll be picking a side based on what I've seen in training this week and how I want to play.

"Everybody has got a clean slate and we'll see how the next few days develop.

"There's one or two who haven't been playing who will come into the side and that's due to the system I play and what I believe in.

"We've got to try and get everybody on side, everybody working together. We are in a little bit of a mess, there's no hiding from that, and the only way we'll get out of it is if we stick together, work hard and do all we can for the club.

"I'll not pre-judge anybody, I've got my own ideas as to how to set up and how I want to play, which will be slightly different from what Mark and Richard did."

Hinckley are 16th in the Conference North, having lost eight of their 13 games and Liddle expects a home win.

He said: "Financially it's a massive game. You're looking to get through this round and hopefully get a big tie.

"A Hartlepool derby would be ideal or a big club like Sheffield Wednesday would financially help the club.

"We've had a couple of reports on Hinckley and Chris (Swailes, today's acting assistant) played against them last season for Blyth Spartans so he knows a bit about them.

"But it's about what we do more than anything else. If we set-up and perform how I would expect us to then we should be okay."