Rochdale boss Keith Hill has set his sights on a famous play-off win over Darlington as Dale aim to end 39 years of hurt.It was 1969 when the Lancashire outfit last won promotion - and they have had little to cheer in the ensuing years.

After five seasons in the third division the club were relegated back to the basement division in 1974 after winning only two of their 46 games.

They have resided there ever since - longer than any other club in the bottom tier - and some cynics have cruelly renamed it 'the Rochdale Division'.

Now Hill's talented young side are aiming to rewrite history as they seek to make home advantage pay and overturn Darlington's 2-1 semi-final first-leg lead.

Hill is confident his men can reach Wembley and set up a play-off final date with Stockport or Wycombe.

"I was really enthused by the performance last weekend and especially by our supporters because the belief is still very much there," said Hill.

"After the match, although we had been beaten on the night the players looked myself and (assistant manager) Dave Flitcroft in the eye to show that they are capable of doing this.

"The fans really showed it. As we were driving back on the motorway, fans were driving past us and virtually celebrating the great opportunity that we now have.

"My family were in the ground with the away supporters and they love going to games, they are massive fans of this club.

"The players know that our fans are with us every step of the way, regardless of what happens and those supporters are enthused by the fact that there is so much honesty in this squad and they want to be part of that."

Dale are boosted by the return after suspension of defender Nathan Stanton but striker Lee Thorpe remains sidelined with a dead leg and a broken arm.

Darlington midfielder Neil Wainwright, meanwhile, insists Dave Penney's side will not allow any complacency to creep in at Spotland.

Midfielder Wainwright provided the assist for Ian Miller to head home the last-gasp winner last Saturday.

But Wainwright is wary of a backlash from free-scoring Dale, who have established a formidable reputation on home soil this term, as the Quakers bid to seal their place at Wembley later this month.

"It's half-time in the tie and we are not going to be complacent by any stretch of the imagination," Wainwright said.

"We know how good Rochdale are at home and we know they are going to come out all firing on all cylinders as well so we'll certainly not get complacent that's for sure."

Wainwright - along with Miller - came off the bench to play an integral part in Saturday's dramatic win and the 30-year-old is hoping to have done enough to earn a starting berth at Spotland.

"Every player wants to be involved in these games and after coming off the bench on Saturday I hope I made a bit of an impact," he added.

"I'll keep my fingers crossed that I'm on the team sheet come Saturday afternoon."

Goalkeeper David Stockdale is expected to need an injection on an ankle injury before being passed fit to play, while defender Ryan Valentine (knee) and midfielder Ben Parker (hamstring) are both rated as 50-50 to feature.

Attacking duo Tommy Wright and Pawel Abbott (both knee) are also unlikely to be involved.

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