Reinforced Dale ready for Gulls
Rochdale manager Keith Hill has the luxury of calling on two new signings for the visit of Torquay.
Hill has secured the signatures of ex-Colchester defender Michael Rose and former Bradford midfielder Ritchie Jones this week, with the pair both going into his squad.
However, Dale will have to make do without forward Bobby Grant, who serves the second game of a four-match suspension.
Defender Peter Cavanagh faces a late fitness test as he continues to struggle with a calf injury.
Despite Andrew Tutte limping out of the 3-1 loss to Northampton, he has returned to training and should be fit.
If the midfielder does fail to make it, Ashley Grimes - who replaced him at Sixfields - may fill in once again.
Torquay will be without manager Martin Ling after the club confirmed that they do not expect the 46-year-old to return this season.
The former Leyton Orient boss has been missing for the last four games due to a debilitating illness and doctors remain unsure of the cause.
Assistant manager Shaun Taylor has been in charge of the last four games in Ling's absence and he will take charge again at Spotland.
Taylor looks likely to continue in that role until the end of the current campaign and the club are looking for an experienced coach to assist the former Swindon centre-back.
The Gulls are expected to include Rene Howe in their squad for the long journey after their top scorer completed his two-match ban for 10 yellow cards.
Eliot Benyon looks set to be involved again after the Southend loanee played 45 minutes in Tuesday night's defeat to Rotherham, while Taylor will hope to have Nathan Craig available after the Welshman came off at the break at Plainmoor in midweek.
Source: PA
