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Only Mark Stallard and Darren Caskey look certain to make the team following Saturdays abysmal surrender to struggling Port Vale.

Paul Bolland's recent tigerish performances may be enough to keep him in the team and skipper Gary Owers looks certain to start,

Owers - Lacklustre

possibly at full-back, despite his lacklustre form in midfield.

Leam Richardson is almost certain to start on the left after returning from injury and Marcel Cas retain his place on the right. Cas turned down a chance to join UEFA Cup place chasing Livingstone to join Notts over the summer and he may be living to regret that decision.

Liam Chilvers can be excused for being below par on Saturday after a long lay-off through injury and could start in central defence.

However, the rest of the defence is a shambles. With Fenton, Ireland, Richardson all better suited to central defence, the inexperienced Paul Riley could return to left-back. Right-back is anyones guess with no-one appearing to be comfortable there.

Steve Mildenhall will return to the club so acrymoniously over the summer as first-choice goalkeeper but many fans would prefer to see the reliable Stuart Garden be given a run in the first team.

Heffernan Promising

Stallard will start as central striker with Dearden choosing between 17 goal Danny Allsopp and promising youngster Paul Heffernan. Allsopp is looking less and less interested as transfer rumours abound. Tony Hackworth's form has been wretched since joining the Magpies.

Swindon look likely to anme an unchanged team following Saturday's home defeat against Bristol City. Dominic Foley is the only doubt. Foley made two appearances on loan for Notts County in 1998.

Notts (possible): Mildenhall, Owers, Chilvers, Ireland, Riley, Cas, Bolland, Caskey, L. Richardson, Stallard, Heffernan. Subs: Garden, Allsopp, I. Richardson, Liburd, Fenton

Swindon (probable): Bart, Griemik, Matthew, Heywood, Willis, Duke, Davis, S. Robinson, McAreavey, Invincible, Foley, Sabin. Subs: McKinney, M. Robinson, Edwards, Williams, Young