Our regular look at the links between the sides.

PAST ENCOUNTERS
The two sides have met on several previous occasions, with the Silkmen just shading the head to head in the Football League. The Blues have won nine League meetings to Darlington's seven, and there have been seven draws whilst Darlo have also won once in the LDV Trophy.

The two sides also met three times in non-League football as Darlington took one season out of the Football League, winning the Conference at the first attempt. Both League games finished in draws, 0-0 at the Moss Rose and 1-1 at Feethams (Edwards scoring for Macc) before the two sides met in the Bob Lord Trophy where goals from Johnson and Butler weren't enough to go through as the Silkmen lost 5-2.

In the League the Silkmen won the first and most recent meeting. That first League meeting came at the Moss Rose and was won by two goals from Phil Power as the Silkmen came from 1-0 down at half time. Earlier this season the Silkmen won 1-0 at the Darlington Arena thanks to an own goal from former Silkman Jeff Smith.

The biggest wins both have been for Darlington who were 6-0 winners at the Moss Rose last season and 4-0 at the Arena two years earlier. None of the Silkmen's victories have had more than a single goal margin, winning 2-1 on three occasions and 1-0 on the other six.

PLAYED FOR BOTH
Both the Silkmen and Darlington this season have players who spent time with the other club last season and saw their time cut short.

Rikki Bains joined the Silkmen from Corby Town last January and worked his way into the first team, playing twice before a twist of bad luck saw him getting injured leaving him out for the rest of the season.

These two games included the 2-1 win at Darlington where he clearly impressed as he joined them after a trial this summer. He played five times for the club before moving to Gateshead on loan. He has since returned and was on their bench on Tuesday night.

Meanwhile Jeff Smith - who spent time on loan at Macc in 2001/2 - has played 24 times this season and earlier this season Paul Harsley joined Darlington on loan, playing three.

On the Silkmen side is Carl Tremarco, who was on loan with Darlington last season, playing twice in February before Darlo's financial problems saw them ending his loan spell.
Others to have represented both include goal machine Clyde Wijnhard who scored 12 in 25 for the Silkmen, Martin Carruthers, Mike Pollitt, Mark Prudhoe and Dennis Fidler.