DAVE Flitcroft is aiming to be fit for Bury's trip to Darlington after being sent home from training on Thursday.

Flitcroft has gone down with a bug, and manager Graham Barrow was concerned that it might spread to the rest of his squad.

Barrow has only recently got Danny Swailes back to full fitness after the centre-back suffered a bout of tonsilitis, and the Shakers boss is wary of a similar illness getting to his players.

"There's been a little bit of something knocking about," Barrow said.

"Danny had it the other week, but now Dave's gone down with something. We're hoping he'll be okay for tomorrow, but we sent him home just as a precaution.

"But something like that can strike two or three players, and I noticed one or two were taking paracetamol tables yesterday, so we can't be too careful."

But if Flitcroft recovers, Barrow will go to Darlington's New Arena -- renamed following the departure of former Quakers chairman George Reynolds -- with more or less a full squad to choose from.

The Shakers boss will start the game with two strikers, meaning that one from Dave Nugent, Jon Newby and Chris Porter will be on the bench.

Nugent has been in great form all season, with Newby is full of confidence after breaking an 18-month scoring duck against Macclesfield two weeks ago. Porter came off the bench to score Bury's equaliser in last Saturday's 1-1 draw at Leyton Orient, to leave Barrow a tough choice.

He also has the option of bringing back Paul Scott, who is available again after serving a two-match suspension.

Scott, normally a centre-back, is likely to be given a more advanced role tomorrow, as Barrow keeps faith with the three-man defence which served him well at Brisbane Road.

"I've got one or two selection problems, but they're good problems to have," Barrow said. "Colin Woodthorpe, in central defence, has been as good as anybody over the past couple of weeks, so I'd be hard pushed to leave him out.

"But Paul Scott may have a role further upfield. He's played there before, so I would have no problem putting him in there."

Barrow has been impressed with the way Darlington manager David Hodgson has turned Darlington from relegation favourites to play-off contenders in 12 months.

The Quakers, who spent most of last season fighting against the threat of dropping into the Conference, are eighth in League Two, having lost just one of their last eight league games.

Former Leeds and Oldham striker Clyde Wijnhard has joined the club on a match-by-match basis, while Hodgson has also brought in former Middlesbrough duo Alun Armstrong and Craig Hignett.

"They were a poor side when we went there last year," Barrow said. "But David Hodgson has transformed the club since he took over, and I expect them to be there or thereabouts come the end of the season.

"He's got a good record with Darlington, having managed them twice before, and he's assembled a good squad, with players such as Wijnhard, Armstrong and Hignett.

"I'm expecting a hard game, but it should be a good game."