Dale go in search of their first win in five games on Saturday, a win that would secure promotion to League One.

Northampton are the visitors to Spotland on Saturday as the town of Rochdale gears up yet again to watch Keith Hill's men attempt to achieve a historic promotion out of the Football League's basement division. The Cobblers will come to spoil the party, but more importantly for them they are going in search of a playoff place as they look to go straight back to League One after their relegation last season.

After a poor start to the season, the club from Sixfields have really picked up since the turn of the year, losing just four games. However, their last two results have brought two of those four defeats, after losses to Notts County and Rotherham. Their other two losses were also back-to-back, coming in February, before they bounced back with five straight wins. Ian Sampson's side are 10^th, two points off Aldershot in 7^th.

It goes without saying that Dale's last four results have not been in line with how the season has gone so far. Three defeats in four, without a goal in 6 hours of football - that would usually spell doom and gloom in the skies over Spotland. But looking back at the footballing entertainment that has been provided this season, and the low points are swiftly forgotten. They will be forgotten even quickly if promotion is achieved on Saturday. A defeat or even a point can see it happen, but Keith Hill and David Flitcroft will be going for the win - make no mistake.

BLAST FROM THE PAST - Neil Edwards helps the ball into his own net for Northampton's fourth during the 5-1 defeat at Sixfields in October 2004.

Frank Fielding is set to start in goal for Dale, with Scott Wiseman, Nathan Stanton, Craig Dawson and Tom Kennedy making up the back four, although Rory McArdle will be pushing for a start after his recent run in the side. If Hill decides to play 4-4-2 then he can pick from Gary Jones, Jason Taylor, Jason Kennedy and Ciaran Toner to play in the middle of the park, whilst any three of those could play if he opts for a 4-3-3 formation.

The wing spots will be fought for between Joe Thompson, Temitope Obadeyi, Kallum Higginbotham and Andy Haworth if the 4-4-2 is chosen, whilst Joe Thompson is likely to play in the free role behind the strikers in the 4-3-3 formation. Chris Dagnall and Chris O'Grady are expected to start up top.

The Cobblers just edge our all-time head-to-head statistics between the two clubs, having won four more of the 52 games than Dale. Only one of those games has come with Keith Hill in charge, and that was earlier this season when a sensational Will Buckley strike gave Dale a 2-1 win at Sixfields. Our full record against Northampton is as follows:

Saturday's referee will be Andy Haines from Tyne & Wear. He last refereed our 1-0 loss at home to Cheltenham earlier this season. He was in the middle for two of our home victories last season - the late 2-1 win over Chesterfield and 1-0 victory against Port Vale. He has refereed 29 games this season, brandishing 91 yellow cards and 5 reds. His assistants will be Mark Griffiths from South Yorkshire and Kevin Mattocks from Lancashire, whilst the fourth official will be William Smallwood from Cheshire.

As always, if you can't make the game, we will provide full live match commentary from Spotland on Dale Player from 14:45. Click here for full details on Dale Player.