Dale out to impress in front of TV cameras

Rochdale will be out to impress in front of the Sky television cameras against Darlington tomorrow and the early kick off time gives them a chance to lay down a marker for their automatic promotion rivals.

The game at Spotland kicks off at 12.45pm and a win for the home side would move them back into the top three, if only for a few hours. Fellow promotion chasers Exeter, Wycombe and Bury all play at 3pm in games against Lincoln away, Aldershot at home and Macclesfield at home respectively.

Dale boss Keith Hill could name an unchanged side from that which earned a point at Shrewsbury on Monday but Dale only came into things and scored their equaliser following the introduction of Lee Thorpe and Adam Rundle from the bench, so both of them could be in from the start against Darlington.

The fixture represents a chance for Dale to the double over the North East club following a 2-1 victory two months ago against the side that they also defeated in play-offs last season to reach the final at Wembley.

Dale go into the game on the back of a productive Easter weekend, picking up four points to bring themselves back into the race for automatic promotion. To keep up the fight and avoid the play-offs a win against Darlington is essential and Dale may even have to win all of their remaining three games to go up without another trip to Wembley.

If Dale do emerge victorious tomorrow, a play-off spot will be guaranteed and they can push on with an element of freedom if their last two games against Luton away, the Hatters' last home game in the football league before they are relegated, and Gillingham at home, who are also hopeful of promotion.

Visit Rochdale Online tomorrow for half time and full time match reports, which go live as soon as the whistle blows, and action shots from matchday photographer Jon Coluccio.