DARLINGTON’S fringe players need to start showing what they are capable of, says manager Tommy Wright, who is likely to be forced into changes for this weekend’s double bill.

During the recent run of good results he has kept changes to a minimum in an attempt to field a settled team, having discovered a successful formula that has resulted in only one defeat in 11 games, including six wins and six clean sheets.

But Phil Turnbull is unavailable today as he is attending the wedding of his twin brother, Stephen, the former Blyth Spartans midfielder, and Wright has suggested that Reece Styche and Dave Syers may not start both Easter games.

They may require fitness tests before today’s home game with Southport, another club occupying a mid-table slot, while Darlington are at Spennymoor Town on Easter Monday.

“The opportunity is there, in those two positions in particular, but throughout the team. I am looking for lads now to really start challenging for shirts,” said Wright.

“There has been a steady team and that team has been performing. Players have been coming in and making an impact, but not really doing enough to threaten that starting XI.

Darlington lacked penetration last week at AFC Telford, a 0-0 draw, a game Syers missed and Styche was withdrawn at half-time due to a calf strain.

Wright added: “The challenge is there. James Caton can play down the middle, Greg Mills can and so can Harvey Saunders. It’s not as though we haven’t got players that can play that position.

“Ultimately, when they’ve been given a chance they haven’t really shone. So that points to the fact that I am going to need another centre-forward in the summer.

“At the minute those players are battling it out for wide positions, they aren’t challenging Stychey.”

The other challenge to Darlington this weekend comes in the shape of two teams close to them in the table, Southport, one place below in 12th and level on points, while Spennymoor are seven points ahead in seventh.

Mathematically Darlington can still end up in the play-offs or be relegated, but finishing in the top seven is highly unlikely – the most points they can achieve is 65, a total which last season would only have been enough for tenth position.

But Quakers would be more than satisfied with continuing their good results of late, which have brought a positive vibe to the club.

Wright said: “Ahead of two games with teams near the play-off places, I’m confident going into these matches, but how good are we? I think we’re a really good side and over this weekend we’re going to play two really good teams.

“If we win six points the league table at 5pm on Monday would look interesting – a lot of the teams play on Friday, so by Saturday we’ll know what we have to do at either end of the table.

“At the moment you don’t know what’s better. There were fixtures on Tuesday with teams in the play-off places against teams in the relegation zone, and you don’t know who you want to get the three points – are we looking up or looking down?

“Over the next week or two the table will show a truer picture and we will start to see where we’re going to be at the end of the season.”

Southport defeated Darlington 2-0 in September and are managed by ex-Bolton Wanderers striker Kevin Davies, who was appointed in October but did not win any of his first 12 matches.

He has overhauled the squad by making a number of signings and after the turn of the year they won ten of 12 games, but have lost their last two, with Quakers assistant boss Alan White in attendance on Tuesday when they lost to York.

Spennymoor will have had an extra day’s rest by Monday as they played yesterday – thumped 4-1 at second-bottom Gainsborough Trinity – but Wright is not too concerned by them having more recovery time.

He said: “I don’t think it makes a great deal of difference as Spennymoor have had that many games lately they probably feel more leggy than most as they’ve done a lot of travelling in the Trophy.

“Playing Saturday and Monday or Friday and Monday in Spennymoor’s case, means that teams are going to change their line-ups anyway, that’s the reality.”

* The first 50 fans aged under 11 through the Darlington turnstiles today will receive a  free Easter egg. All under 11s are now admitted free with an adult at Quakers’ home games since the club opened seated stand extension.