Quakers will be aiming to finish 2005 on a winning note and to build upon their three game unbeaten run which has lifted the club above the mid-table mark. Lincoln City currently occupy fifteenth spot in League two and are finding life a little more difficult than the previous few seasons which have seen the club finish consistently in the top seven spaces in the division.

Despite the hosts position compared to previous campaigns Lincoln City should not be underestimated. Having seen his side well beaten by Grimsby Town in their last fixture Keith Alexander will surely not need to provide much motivation to his troops. Whilst like many games in the last few days Lincoln's clash at Grimsby was played in conditions which were anything but easy. Despite this Alexander was determined not to blame the weather.

"Up until the Grimsby game I'd been reasonably pleased with how we've been playing but at Blundell Park we were very poor for the first half an hour and that's not something I've been able to say during my time here," said Alexander. "It's all too easy to blame the conditions but at the end of the day we didn't apply ourselves in the right manner and that's something which is unacceptable. The players were in the next morning at nine o'clock and now it's up to them to step things up a gear."

Darlington's win on Wednesday night may be the indication that David Hodgson's men are finally beginning to recapture the early form of the current campaign however they will need another positive result at Sincil Bank to ensure that the recent revival isn't just a flash in the plan.

Preparations for the game have hardly been ideal for Darlington. David Hodgson was forced to search out a keeper after improving Bert Bossu was sidelined for around six weeks with a broken foot. Quakers' continued good relationship with Premiership neighbours Middlesbrough has allowed the club to draft in David Knight for a week under an emergency loan agreement. By the time the deal comes to an end Quakers should be in a better position to access their options with the transfer window reopen.

Lincoln will be boosted by the return of experienced former Hull City midfielder Dean Keates who has been missing due to suspension. However the Imps will have to make do without twenty-seven year old defender Paul Morgan who is suffering from an ankle injury.

Hard work on the part of Lincoln City's ground staff should ensure the game, which kicks off at 3pm, should go ahead without any problems. Like much of the country snowy conditions have made life tough but Lincoln seem to have every confidence in the game not falling to the weather. Darlington, as they nearly always do at Lincoln, should take a decent travelling support. For those not able to make it remember Quakers World for full match commentary.

Previous ten meetings

Lincoln's last five games