REVENGE is in the air for Darlington when high-flying Scunthorpe arrive at Feethams today with their eyes on a play-off spot.

The game is not of great importance to Darlington, but skipper Craig Liddle says it gives his teammates a chance to throw a spanner in the works of Scunthorpe's promtion push.

And after one particularly forgettable day last November, Quakers have every reason to seek revenge.

With Peter Beagrie and Lee Hodges both influential, Scunthorpe were a class above as they inflicted a 7-1 humiliation on Tommy Taylor's team - and if that wasn't hard enough, The Iron previously beat Quakers 3-0 in an LDV Vans Trophy match.

There have been two other results against Scunthorpe which have cost Quakers dear.

In 1989 at Glanford Park, Scunthorpe relegated Quakers to the Conference with a 5-1 win and seven years later a 3-3 draw condemned Darlington to the play-offs when a victory would have secured promotion to Division Two.

However, it's fair to say referee Paul Alcock did have a strong influence on the outcome of the 7-1 defeat.

That day, Scunthorpe rubbed their hands in anticipation of the inevitable goal-slide that was to follow as the Halstead whistle-blower, kicked out of the Premiership for not being good enough, harshly sent-off Barry Conlon and Mark Ford inside 33 minutes at Glanford Park.

Although the focus of attention following the game was clearly on Alcock, Liddle believes Darlington owe Scunthorpe after that hiding.

"I was in the stand that day because I was injured but watching the match was embarrassing," said Liddle.

"It was the referee who did the damage but it's never nice to get hammered, no matter what's happened in the game.

"But credit to them, they didn't get clever or take the mick, they were professional about things and got on with their job.

"But we'd still like to put one over them and put a dent in their play-off push to make them sweat a bit."

It hasn't gone unnoticed at Feethams that a Darlington win today would be of great assistance to Hartlepool, providing Quakers' rivals can do the business against Swansea.

But with Beagrie in Scunthorpe's line-up, Darlington will certainly have a tough task on their hands.

Liddle said: "It might do Hartlepool a favour but Hartlepool have still got to win their last two games and that won't be easy.

"Peter Beagrie is a player to watch and whoever is right-back will have their work cut out. At their place he was putting some brilliant crosses in.

"We've had a laugh about Bettsy in training this week, because it looks like he might not be playing. We've been saying he's got Beagrie-itis!"

Despite Liddle's determination to avenge last November's mauling, manager Taylor has taken a more relaxed stance ahead of today's game, but he admits the 7-1 scoreline has not been forgotten.

He said: "If you start talking about it in terms of revenge it turns into a kicking match.

"We took a battering down there. They just came at us down the wings and put some good crosses in and murdered us.

"So I just want the lads to keep their heads, knock the ball about and create chances. If we manage to keep 11 people on the field we'll be happy!"

Barry Conlon is out for the rest the season having picked up a back injury in training, while a booking against Halifax last week means he's suspended for Monday's last home game of the season against Plymouth and next week's trip to Oxford.

Richard Hodgson is in contention after recovering from an ankle knock but full-back Betts is rated as 50/50 after playing a part of Quakers' reserve defeat Walsall in midweek as he seeks to play his first game since suffering a gashed leg at Carlisle in early February.

Adam Reed was substituted at half-time at Rochdale last week because Taylor wasn't satisfied with the defender's performance, but previous good displays should count in his favour today.

Read more about the Quakers here.