Darlington take on Notts County this coming Friday evening in a game which could see Quakers take pole position in the table. Both sides have started the season in tremendous form with visitors Notts County currently unbeaten. Darlington however have started the season with a real flourish as well and will provide an ample test for Magpies boss Gudjon Thordarson.

Darlington have already had one chance to go top of the table this season when they met Leyton Orient. Quakers fell to a 1-0 defeat (their only loss of the season so far) but have since bounced back in superb style winning away at Grimsby Town and at home to Rochdale with only ten men. In between came a 4-4 draw with Chester City in which Quakers proved that they are more than capable of hurting defences. Darlington boss Dave Hodgson is hoping however that his side have learnt from the last time that they had the chance to go top.

"Have we learnt our lesson in the space of a fortnight? Does it take longer? Only time will tell. We'll just have to wait and see," said Hodgson on Quakers World. "It is obviously a different game, it will be a night game, there will be one or two different players on the pitch on our behalf etc. The most important thing is when they come off the pitch they come off to applause first and foremost."

The games have been coming thick and fast for Darlington of late and with this fixture moved forward twenty four hours to Friday night (to allow fans to watch the England game) it means another test of the players' fitness. So far however they passed with flying colours as proved by the Rochdale result in which they had to battle away with a man less than their opponents. The Quakers boss admits he is unable to quite place his finger on it but whatever it is knows it is working well.

"Hopefully if we keep it right it will continue. I changed the whole training programme at the beginning of the year - I made the players train three times per day because I felt we needed to find a better platform to start the campaign off and weather that is the reason behind it or weather it is because the players are living correctly, i.e. behaving correctly when they are not in our view I don't know," said Hodgy yesterday. "We never know the answers we just have to try things and at the moment your right because it is working because with two games in three days and only ten men on the pitch for the last twenty five minutes we were the strongest side."

Quakers will be without the services of captain Matthew Clarke due to suspension but have enough scope to shuffle their defence around to cover for his absence. Whoever does slot into place will have to keep a watchful eye on Magpies danger man Glynn Hurst. The former Ayr and Stockport County forward has scored four times this season. Hurst was not involved in County's games against Stockport and Watford however took his place for the games against Bristol Rovers and Mansfield and scored two goals in each and earning the praise of his manager.

"Glynn has responded perfectly. Four goals in a week is very impressive indeed," said County boss Gudjon Thordarson. "In the last few days he has become a very vital member of the Notts County team that we have here. His goals have all been well taken. He has been a real predator; you just have to look at his goals to show that. All of them have been from inside the box and he has shown a brilliant response to what I have been asking for. I am pleased for him, and long may it continue."

For all those not able to attend or exiled away from the area then remember the Quakers World service. Full match report to follow as well as post match comments on Saturday morning.

Last ten meetings

Notts County's last five games