Darlington could be without central defender Richie Byrne (hamstring) for the home clash with Port Vale.Defender Mark Bower (ankle), midfielder Chris Lumsdon (knee) and striker Noel Whelan (hamstring) are all still out.

Port Vale captain Tommy Fraser will be missing while he completes his two-match ban, so Anthony Griffith is likely to deputise again.

Midfielder Dave Howland (knee) and striker Geoff Horsfield (calf) are expected to miss out again.

Port Vale assistant manager Geoff Horsfield told BBC Radio Stoke:

"If we're going to have any chance of getting into the play-offs, we've got to stand up and be counted.

"There's too many players going missing at the minute, we've got to have that belief.

"They're good enough players, but we haven't had the belief in recent weeks."

Source: BBC Sport