Cav to make long-awaited Dale start
Rochdale midfielder Peter Cavanagh is in contention for his first start since August in the home game against Mansfield.
Cavanagh, who missed most of the first half of the season due to an Achilles injury, played a cameo role in the recent home defeat to Fleetwood and stepped off the bench for the last 20 minutes in Friday night's draw at Southend.
Manager Keith Hill, who has no new injury or suspension problems, is unlikely to name the same side and could recall midfield pair Gary Dicker and Andrew Tutte to his squad.
Dale, outside the play-off places on goal difference, are chasing their first league win in four matches.
Mansfield will have an unchanged squad.
The Stags incurred no new injury or suspension problems on Saturday as a dramatic 3-2 home defeat to Accrington extended their winless run in League Two to 12 matches.
Sam Clucas (ankle) and Ben Hutchinson (hamstring) remain out injured. Eleven-goal leading scorer Clucas is expected to be out for around two months and fellow midfielder Hutchinson is looking at up to six weeks on the sidelines.
Centre-half John Dempster will complete his two-match suspension on Boxing Day.
Source: PA
