Dale will have to make at least one change from the side that defeated Torquay last week since the regular right winger has done a runner. Keiron Durkan is favourite to get game on his favoured wing although Dave Flitcroft or even Lee Duffy could fill the spot in question.

Rochdale fans will be hoping that Kevin Townson can keep his remarkable goalscoring streak going, the wee man having netted five times in the last three games.

Rovers were one of the pre-season promotion favourites but things haven't worked out quite as well as their fans would have hoped during Gerry Francis' second spell in charge of the club.

Their relegation last year was something of a surprise and so are their struggles this term although their failures in front of goal can be linked directly with their inability to replace men such as Jason Roberts, Jamie Cureton and Bobby Zamora. All prolific goalscorers who have been transferred out of the Memorial Ground in recent seasons.

The Gas haven't won a game for nine matches and have consequently slid down the table to such an extent that Francis was moved to issue an ultimatum to his players in which he gave them three games to show a vast improvement or he is off.

The first game of this trial was at Cheltenham on Tuesday where Rovers played out a goalless draw and Francis declared himself satisfied with the improved display by the Bristol players.

Francis has been making noises about how the improvement has to be carried on against Dale so it looks like another tough game for the boys in blue.

Thankfully the Dale side contains a number of highly experienced individuals and so the off the field events of the past three days should be put to one side once the game begins.

A repeat of the result last time Hamilton was looking after the team wouldn't be a bad effort in the circumstances ie a 1-1 away draw.