ROCHDALE boss Keith Hill is determined to make home advantage count when Macc visit Spotland.

Dale, with four wins from their last four League Two outings, are right in among the promotion-chasing pack having recaptured the form that carried them to Wembley in the play-off final last season.

Hill has a full squad to choose from with Simon Ramsden (calf) and Jon Shaw (hamstring) available after injury, though given the team's current form they will find it hard to make the starting line up.

Hill said: "Both players will find it difficult to break into the team because we have been playing so well, especially in the league.

"We've not had a home match for a few weeks so we are really looking forward to the game and I'm always glad to get back to league football, because that's our bread and butter.

"It will be a case of trying to pick up where we left off against Aldershot in our last home match."

Macclesfield boss Keith Alexander, meanwhile, has the chance to prove his side is better than their League position suggests.

The Silkmen negotiated a tricky FA Cup test at Harlow Town last weekend, beating the Ryman Premier League outfit 2-0 to set up a second-round clash with League Two rivals Port Vale.

And now Alexander wants his players to build on the confidence gained from that victory and start winning a few League games - starting at Spotland.

"We've played well in the last three or four weeks without winning," he said.

"And Rochdale are flying at the minute. I watched them draw 1-1 at Lincoln a few weeks ago and they looked a very good side, so it doesn't get any easier in this league.

"We seem to put in a good performance and follow it with a bad one so we've got to take the Harlow performance - and the win - into the next game. But if we can go there, play poorly and win, I'll be happy.

"Dale are flying high in League Two and are going to be a tough proposition, though we have been playing well in recent weeks we have not been scoring and we have got to address that problem."

Nat Brown, who arrived from Wrexham on loan last week, is likely to continue in midfield while Gareth Evans is back after suspension. Jamie Tolley is available following a knee ligament injury but Paul Morgan is unlikely to return after sustaining a blow to the head against Rotherham recently.

Rochdale league form: DWWWW

Macc league form: LDLLL

Key opponent: Terry Dunfield - former City man is hitting form

Prediction: Rochdale 2 Macc 1 - Dale should be too strong at home

Agree with the prediction? Have your say.

You can get 7/1 on Dale winning 2-1 with Betfred. For this and more odds, click here.

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