Manager Dave Penney is doing everything within his power to ensure his Darlington squad go into Saturday's Coca-Cola League 2 Play-Off semi-final clash with Rochdale with the best possible preparation behind them.

The players have also been training behind closed doors this week, with the Quakers boss keen to give little away former England coach Steve McClaren is lending his support to Darlington's promotion cause after taking charge of a training session this week.

The ex-Middlesbrough manager has been out of work since last November, after failing to guide England to next month's European Championships.

Dave Penney played in the same Oxford United side as McClaren between 1989 and 1992 and the pair have remained good friends since.

McClaren, who still lives in the North-East, was more than happy to assist Penney and assistant manager Martin Gray at the club's Chester-le-Street training headquarters earlier this week.