Last Updated: Fri, 08 Feb 2013 11:10
Rochdale will be without Bobby Grant against Northampton as the forward begins a four-match ban.
Grant scored a superb equaliser in Dale's 1-1 draw with Chesterfield last weekend, only to collect his second red card of the season in the closing stages for a late lunge on Sam Togwell.
Terry Gornell may be an option for boss Keith Hill in Grant's absence, but the former Shrewsbury man must recover from a dead-leg he sustained in the goalless draw at Cheltenham a fortnight ago and ruled him out of contention to face the Spireites.
Defender Peter Cavanagh was also absent last week due to a calf strain and will be assessed before the trip to Sixfields.
It is five games since Rochdale tasted victory, with Hill having stopped the rot of three consecutive defeats thanks to back-to-back draws since returning to Spotland as John Coleman's successor.
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