Hill to keep the faith
Keith Hill could name an unchanged XI as his in-form Rochdale side go in search of a fourth consecutive npower League Two win against promotion-chasing Port Vale.
Following their dramatic, late 2-1 triumph at Exeter and a 3-0 demolition of Fleetwood at the Highbury Stadium, Dale returned to Spotland to dispatch beaten Johnstone's Paint Trophy Finalists Southend 4-2 on Wednesday night.
Bobby Grant bagged a brace and is set to continue in a potent forward line alongside the resurgent George Donnelly, whose midweek strike extended his current purple patch to six goals in eight games.
Midfielder Ritchie Jones (ankle) is expected to miss out once more, but Hill may give youth a chance in that department after Callum Camps, 17, was named in the squad for the first time against Southend.
Camps is a first-year apprentice at Spotland and starred with some eye-catching performances in Dale's FA Youth Cup run this season.
Andrew Tutte, Rhys Bennett (both knee) and Reece Gray (broken leg) remain long-term absentees.
John McCombe is expected to be fit for Port Vale's trip.
McCombe, 27, was forced off late in the second half of the 1-1 home draw against Aldershot with a groin injury.
It prompted fears that the player might miss the remainder of the promotion run-in, but he trained on Thursday and looks set to make Saturday's clash.
Fellow centre-half Liam Chilvers missed Tuesday night's match due to a groin problem and he will be checked.
"We will have to assess Liam Chilvers. Hopefully it won't be as bad as we first feared and he will be available for selection on Saturday," said Vale boss Micky Adams.
"Having said that, we have got young Joe Davis or Richard Duffy we can stick in there so it is not the end of the world if those two aren't fit."
Adams also has the likes of Louis Dodds, Chris Shuker and Ben Williamson to call upon should he wish to freshen up his starting XI.
Ashley Vincent could also be in the squad at Spotland, but Calvin Andrew has been ruled out.
Winger Vincent, who has been sidelined for a month with an ankle injury, resumed training this week. However, striker Andrew has a knee problem and he joins Rob Taylor (Achilles) on the list of absentees.
Source: PA
