DAVE Penney will tell his players to thrive on the occasion as Darlington look to make home advantage count in the first leg of today's play-off showdown with Rochdale.

A bumper crowd is expected as Quakers begin their quest for League One football at the Darlington Arena.

With the return leg at Spotland in seven days' time, Penney knows how important it is to gain the upper hand on home soil.

But rather than let the big occasion get to them, the Quakers boss believes his players should use the adrenaline to their advantage.

And with several players boasting experience of play-off semi-finals, Penney has no reservations about how they will handle this evening's clash.

Steve Foster, Gregg Blundell, Ricky Ravenhill and Tim Ryan were part of Penney's Doncaster Rovers side that beat Dagenham & Redbridge in the Football Conference final at Stoke's Britannia Stadium in 2003.

Two years ago, Rob Purdie achieved promotion via the same route with Hereford.

"It depends on how the players react to it,"

said Penney.

"I'm hoping they've got some nerves and some excitement because that will make them play better.

"It raises everybody's game when there's a big crowd and a good atmosphere.

"I won't have any worries about the players. There are four who came with me who have been involved in the play-offs and Rob Purdie was at Hereford so there's a few that have experienced it and it's how they deal with it on the day."

Typically, the Yorkshireman remains unconcerned by Darlington's recent record against Dale - they have failed to win in their last four meetings.

Last season it was shortly before Penney's appointment that caretaker duo Martin Gray and Neil Maddison were helpless to prevent a humiliating 5-0 home defeat at the hands of Dale.

But that record is not something Penney wants to dwell on as Quakers look to set the record straight later today in front of the Sky cameras.

He said: "The league's finished now and it's all about what happens this Saturday and the following Saturday.

"Obviously the onus is on us being the home team this week.

Having said that, I don't think it really matters. A lot of teams have won away from home in this league.

"The pressure is always on the home team to get a result, but we have to be patient and try to play our normal game at home.

"We have to get it down and pass it like we did at Peterborough."

There is little doubt that last week's win at London Road has given Penney and his squad a much-needed lift ahead of the play-offs.

After putting behind them a dreadful run of just one win in 11 with a makeshift line-up against Posh, Penney believes his players have demonstrated what they're capable of achieving.

"We beat Peterborough easily without a centre forward in the team and everybody was excellent,"

said Penney, who will recall Tommy Wright, Ryan Valentine, Guylain Ndumbu-Nsungu and Julian Joachim to his squad.

Darlington's spate of injuries, particularly to strikers, has arguably cost Penney's men automatic promotion.

But eleven years after captaining Swansea City at Wembley in the Third Division play-off final - in which they lost to a lastminute Northampton goal - Penney hopes to make up for that disappointment with Darlington.

"I'll only enjoy the play-offs if we win them," said Penney.

"I think we've had a good season so far, we can have a great season by getting promoted.

"It's a great occasion and not many teams can get in the play-offs. There are seven teams who have achieved something in this league this season and we're one of them."

While Penney can only the rue the unavailability of club record signing Pawel Abbott, the Quakers boss does not expect to be dealing with many niggling injuries with an appearance at Wembley on the horizon.

He said: "There have been cases where players have been playing when they're not 100 per-cent fit.

"That's disappointing and they have to be professional. If they're not fit they're not ready and they can't afford to let people down.

"If you've got a chance to play at Wembley then you might try to hide a knock."

With over 6,500 home tickets sold last night, and Dale selling almost half their 4,000 allocation, Darlington will almost certainly attract their biggest gate of the season.

Penney has been critical of the negativity of home support, and it was in the wake of those comments that the Quakers boss was pleased with the backing his side received in their last home game against Dagenham.

"I think the last home game, after I'd had a bit of a pop in the press the atmosphere was fantastic," said Penney.

"Hopefully we're going to have triple our normal average for a game and hopefully we'll get 10,000 plus and we can have a great atmosphere.

"It's a lot better for the players.

"There were 10,000 at Peterborough last week and it just gives the players a buzz and a lift, they can enjoy the game more."

■ Tickets for Darlington's return leg at Rochdale next Saturday (12pm) will be on sale to season ticket holders, one ticket per season ticket limit, immediately after the home leg this evening and also Monday and Tuesday. Remaining tickets will go on general sale on Wednesday.

Darlington have received 2,000 tickets for the game.

Prices are £18 for adults and £10 concessions. Contact the ticket office on 0871 8551883.

■ Motorists are being urged to avoid roads around the Darlington Arena ground today before and after the club's playoff semi-final.

Darlington Borough Council has urged people who are not attending the game to avoid roads near the Arena.

A council spokesman has asked people to use other routes between 4.30pm and 5.30pm, as well as after the game, which is scheduled to finish at 7.15pm.

Supporters are reminded that shuttle buses from town centre will commence at 3.50pm and then be available every 15 minutes.

9:01am Saturday 10th May 2008

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