Tom Portas misses his first Darlington game of the season today away to Prescot Cables.

The midfielder, a summer signing from Whitby Town and a key member of the side, sustained a hamstring strain during Tuesday’s win at Brighouse Town and was unable to complete the match.

His place today is taken by Terry Galbraith, who will start on the left of midfield with Leon Scott moving back to centre-midfield. Ian Watson reverts to his usual left-back slot.

Mark Bell has, according to manager Martin Gray, sickness and diarrhoea, so his place on the bench is taken by youth team keeper Ryan Farley, who was also on the bench in midweek.

Darlington are bidding for their fifth successive win against a team struggling at the wrong end of the table that have drawn all four of their home fixtures.

Prescot Cables: Gibson, Griffiths, O’Reilly, McCulloch, Shinks, Phillips, Gardner, Bannister, Doran, Corlett, Ryan. Subs: Stoker, McLoughlin, West, Prince, Hont

Darlington: Jameson; Brown, White, Hunter, Watson; A Mitchell, Scott, Robinson, Galbraith; Armstrong, Purewal. Subs: Hatch, Thompson, Pennal, Cocks and Farley (gk).