MODEST Alan White may have been one of Darlington's most impressive performers this season, but the towering defender simply describes his performances so far as steady'.

Saturday's shock 5-1 defeat at Hereford apart, White and fellow centre-back Steve Foster have formed a solid partnership that has propelled Quakers' into the thick of the promotion race.

The defence has been lauded as a major factor in taking Quakers up to fifth, but with right back Neil Austin missing nine league games through injury and both keepers - Andy Oakes and David Stockdale - suffering injuries, White and Foster have been the two mainstays.

Left-back Tim Ryan is also a regular but has missed two matches and was substituted on Saturday with a recurrence of a hamstring problem that makes him doubtful for tonight's home game with Shrewsbury Town.

Rob Purdie could play in Ryan's absence, though Neil Austin is also an option having played in that position during last season with Barnsley.

But Ian Miller is again expected to be on the bench. He enjoyed an impressive loan spell last season but the form of White and Foster has continually blocked his route to the first-team.

He rejoined from Ipswich, rejecting the opportunity to join Brentford, in order to gain experience but his only start in his favoured centre-back position has been the first game of the season which White sat out.

Since then Foster and White have been imperious, and Darlington- born White is grateful to his team-mates for his own good performances.

He said: "It's made it a lot easier having Foster next to me, as well as Neil Austin and Tim Ryan. It has made it easier to settle in because they are such good players.

"I've been happy. My first few performances have been steady away. Your first few performances, you just want to do your job and I think I've been steadily getting a bit better each week.

"I'm pleased with the way I'm playing, but I know I can do better."

White admits that Darlington were below par at Hereford but, after only two defeats in 14, says there is no reason to panic.

He added: "The mentality of our team is that we're going to win every game, we're certainly not going to get beat, and we're going to get promoted.

"Before Saturday we'd lost one game all season. When we hadn't played well we had come away with a 1-0 or a 0-0 and that's the mentality we've got.

"It's not panic stations, we know we're better than that.

Standards have been set for ourselves and we are not willing to drop below them. Saturday just was not good enough."

After Saturday's defeat Darlington dropped two places in League Two, but can climb back to third with a win tonight over Shrewsbury who are not permitted to play on loan Quakers' winger Neil Wainwright.

The Shrews headed for the North-East immediately after winning at Wrexham on Sunday.

Striker Matt Green is available tonight for the final game of his one month loan from Cardiff City.