Darlington manager Martin Gray is expecting to see his players step up a level against Frickley tonight when Quakers open up their home Evo-Stik NPL Premier Division campaign at Heritage Park.

Quakers started with a 2-0 defeat at Buxton on Saturday, and tonight face a side who were 1-0 up against Matlock with five minutes left last Saturday but lost 2-1.

“We must get back to winning ways by being better in both boxes,” said Gray. “The performance overall was all right last Saturday, but we conceded two goals from set-pieces which in the past we never have done on a regular basis, while we had plenty of chances at the other end but couldn’t convert them.

“The players are aware of what is needed from them. We must get off to a winning start at home.”

Gray is also hoping for a big gate for the opening match at the third level of the non league system, just one below where Quakers would have been playing before their enforced demotion in 2012.

In the past three seasons, Quakers’ gates have averaged over 1,000, a figure which is viewed with envy by clubs higher than them in the national system.

And Gray said: “It would be a great to have a big crowd for our first home game. “We had some great support behind us in the play offs – there were at least 1,500 Darlington fans at each game – and it would be great to have the vast majority of those back cheering us on.

“This league is a step up in terms of standard from where we were. Teams are going to be much stronger and more organized, and they will be a big test for us. We need as much support as we can get to help us win games.

“We have lost only seven league games at home in the three seasons since I took charge. I want the team to continue to make this as a difficult place to come to, and the fans can play their part in it too.”

Adam Nowakowski will be missing tonight because of a head injury, so David Dowson is the most likely to replace him up front. Three Darlington players are ready to make their home debuts tonight in Quakers’ new strip – defenders Kevin Burgess and Lewis Gibbons plus midfielder Phil Turnbull.

Quakers have played Frickley before – they beat the Yorkshire side 1-0 in the second round of the 1984-85 FA Cup, Phil Lloyd scoring the only goal of the game. Quakers went on to the third round, in which they beat Middlesbrough in a replay.