DARLINGTON’S line-up this evening at Newton Aycliffe will be more familiar to fans than at the weekend when 20 players were used in their first friendly.

They started with three trialists on Saturday at Shildon, a 2-0 defeat, and made wholesale changes after an hour.

Quakers’ starting line-up at Moore Lane this evening will be more familiar, with manager Martin Gray saying: “It’ll be most of the lads that didn’t start on Saturday. Dave Syers will be back, Phil Turnbull will be there as well, so it’ll be a strong team.”

Gray added: “We’re looking for good shape off the ball, better decisions on the ball and hopefully the pitch will be a bit better. We’re hoping for a bit more rain, so we can play the game at pace.”

Tom Portas, recovering from a long-term ankle injury, may get a run-out as a substitute depending on how he trained last night, but Richard Brodie will not be involved.

On Monday Aycliffe kicked off their pre-season with a 1-0 home win against Darlington RA, Craig Hutchinson scoring with a penalty.

Admission this evening is £5 adults, £3 concessions and kick-off has been switched to 7.30pm.

Darlington do not have a game on Saturday, instead playing on Monday evening against Newcastle United’s under-23s at The Northern Echo Arena.

Darlington: Bartlett, Marrs, Hunter, Brown, Ferguson, Thompson, Syers, Turnbull, Gillies, Beck, Saunders.