Story by Kevin Luff  - 27th October 2006

Since managing Darlington's youth team Martin Gray has secured several convincing wins over young Hartlepool United teams. Saturday will see Gray involved in his first senior derby fixture as part of the temporary management team which includes Neil Maddison.

After stepping up to the plate to help out with firs team affairs Gray has played his part in steadying the ship. A point at Hereford United was followed up by three points the following weekend against Barnet. Another three points could go a long way to perhaps pushing Gray closer to landing the position on a permanent basis - something which he openly admits to wanting. Whilst Gray will be able to call on plenty of experience at youth team level he admits this one will be much different.

"We've had a couple of good years against Hartlepool and we've come away with some convincing victories. Having said that its not all about results when you are working with kids," said Gray. "It is always nice to win games, especially against your local rivals but this will be a different ball game completely come Saturday. It will be two senior teams with a lot of experience and two teams that are desperate to win a game."

This is Darlington's first league encounter with Hartlepool United at Victoria Park for over four years. Both sides were pitched against each other in the Carling Cup last season and whilst the match had it moments it failed to really capture the spectacle of a league meeting between the two sides. Hartlepool's relegation last season from Coca-Cola League One meant derby days became a regular event once again.

The common perception of derby fixtures between any clubs is more talk of motivation than tactics but Gray revealed it is a delicate balancing act and ensuring the players do not peak ahead of the game but still know the importance of the fixture when kick off time rolls around. With two positive results behind them in the league Gray is making very few changes to his preparations for the match.

"It is down to ourselves as a management team, to prepare these players without getting them too hyped up, too early on but enough come three o'clock that they know what this game is all about," said Gray. "I don't think you can go too over the top on motivation. You don't want to pre-hype them so that they are flying on Friday. You need to get the timing right so the preparation is very important throughout the week. We have prepared very similar on the training ground as to how we prepared last week and that ended in a victory. Sometimes players want to go down the same road because that is what they did last week."

Quakers will be boosted by the return of Matt Clarke. The former skipper arrived back in the North East from Bradford City on a month's loan and will go straight into the side. Darlington however will be without Julian Joachim. The striker has yet to recover from a hamstring injury and will not be risked.