Darlington travel to rain-soaked Cumbria this evening hoping to beat the weather and a Carlisle team whose form has improved dramatically.

Although no pitch inspection is planned, more rain is forecast so the game could be under threat.

Carlisle's Brunton Park match with Hartlepool last Saturday was postponed because parts of the pitch were under two inches of rain as the nearby River Eden had burst its banks.

Because of all the postponements over Christmas, Darlington are already facing a heavy fixture load, with a further four midweek matches to come.

Should tonight's game be postponed, it won't be rescheduled until at least March 12 because of Quakers' congested fixture list.

Despite languishing towards the bottom of the table all season, Carlisle shouldn't be underestimated.

Roddy Collins picked up January's Manager of the Month award as his side beat promotion-chasers Rushden and Hull, while they held Luton and Rochdale to draws.

The Cumbrians' impressive run began when Darlington manager Tommy Taylor's former club Leyton Orient were thumped 6-1 at Brunton Park.

Some Darlington players may breathe a sigh of relief if the game is postponed because several are carrying injuries picked up over the last few weeks and tonight's game will be Quakers' seventh in 17 days.

But Taylor wants the match played and he wants his players to put right their dreadful away form.

He said: "I just want to play the game. We've got lots of players with a few small injuries, but that's football and we've got to live with it.

"I'd rather have the game played than not and it gives us the chance to win away from home, which we should have done on Saturday but for one or two mistakes.

"I thought our two men in midfield were good and so was the defence, but our forwards lacked a bit of spark."

Darlington will again be without Danny Mellanby (hamstring) and Richard Hodgson (ankle) while Barry Conlon is slowly recovering from his sore toe and Paul Campbell is suspended.

Gary Pearson was substituted on Saturday but that was a precaution as he felt his hamstrings tightening.

Neil Wainwright sustained a facial injury, but he's in the squad, as is Adam Rundle. Goalkeeper Andy Collett will be back if he passes a fitness test.

Craig Liddle will be banned for Quakers' match at Mansfield a week on Saturday, having reached five bookings with a yellow card at Rushden on Saturday. David Brightwell may recover from his calf injury in time to take the captain's place at Field Mill.

* Darlington reserves' Avon Insurance League Cup tie at Barnsley last night was postponed.

Read more about Darlington FC here.