Darlington must try to inject some momentum into their stuttering promotion challenge tomorrow without experienced strikers Clyde Wijnhard and Alun Armstrong.

The pair are both suspended for the visit of League Two play-off rivals Boston United, while Neil Wainwright also serves a one-match ban.

Quakers manager David Hodgson must somehow find a winning formula from the players at his disposal, which include new signings Jonjo Dickman and Keith Gilroy.

But Jamaican international central defender Damion Stewart did not arrive at the club this week as expected after a problem with the Home Office.

There was more bad news for Hodgson when it was revealed that Joey Hutchinson needed a second operation on the cruciate knee ligament he damaged in September.

The Quakers boss was lost for words after last Saturday's hugely disappointing 1-0 defeat at Leyton Orient, a result which saw Darlington slip back out of the promotion play-off places into eighth place.

A goal from Lee Steele after 26 minutes was enough to give the London side all three points, with Hodgson unable to account for his team's lack of confidence after two encouraging performances.

But he knows he must quickly find a solution to his side's chronic inconsistency if they are to stay in touch with the play-off contenders. He can at least call on the experience of Neil Maddison against the Pilgrims as he suffered only bruising when caught by the flailing elbow of Orient's David Hunt.

Boston will be hoping to revive their own promotion aspirations after last Saturday's 1-0 home defeat by Northampton Town left them in 13th spot.