DARLINGTON manager Gary Bennett will today demand his players show their true colours.

Inconsistent Quakers go into the toughest game of the season so far against promotion-chasing Brighton without a recognised left back because of injuries to Gary Himsworth and Paul Heckingbottom.

They could also be missing central defender Neil Aspin, who is still struggling from the head injury he suffered at Cardiff on Tuesday night.

And with striker Ton Kaak - who is understood to be considering a return to his native Holland - and midfielder Paul Campbell also sidelined through injury, Bennett's squad is stretched.

But he sounded the rallying cry as he said: "It is time for the players to show me their character, and what they can do in situations like this.

"We're almost down to the bare bones, and this is a big test for us today with all the injuries piling up.

"The left side of the defence is a problem for us, but there are one or two things we can do, apart from switching to a 3-5-2 formation. That is something we'll have to think about.

"So this is a great opportunity for the young lads to come of age in footballing terms.

Brighton come to Feethams in second place in the table, and have lost just once in their last 12 matches, at leaders Chesterfield last Saturday.

Quakers lost their last home game against Kidderminster, and Bennett said: "Brighton will be a strong team, but we must return to winning ways at home.

"We have just had two tough away games, and we were unlucky not to come away with a point from Cardiff on Tuesday night.

"We played some good football at Scunthorpe last Saturday and in the second half at Cardiff, and put in a lot of good work, although our final ball let us down.

"If we can polish that up, then we can put in a good performance.

"We're not going to have the squad available which I would have liked, but I'm sure that the players can rise to the occasion."

Quakers have now slipped to 11th in the table, in the middle of a bunch of 15 clubs who are covered by only seven points.

And defeat today could see them slip five points behind a play-off spot.

Graham Liddle, who has yet to play a first-team game, is on standby to play in the centre of defence if Aspin doesn't play, but Bennett could switch Stuart Elliott into the middle and give Jordan Tait his home debut.

"We'll have a look at Neil this morning," said Bennett. "We don't want to take a chance on the wound reopening when he heads the ball for the first time."