Morecambe look set to hand new recruit Paul Mullin his debut, while Rochdale have Gary Jones available.
Mullin set for bow; Jones back for Dale
Morecambe boss Sammy McIlroy looks set to hand new recruit Paul Mullin his debut, while Rochdale have Gary Jones available.
The veteran striker joined the Shrimps earlier in the week from Accrington but did not feature in Tuesday's Johnstone's Paint Trophy defeat to Carlisle.
He now looks certain to be thrust into the action against Dale and there were positives to emerge from the midweek penalty shoot-out defeat against the Cumbrians.
Assistant boss Mark Lillis said: "It was great to see players like Garry Hunter and Wayne Curtis come back from injury and both get on the scoresheet against Carlisle."
Midfielder Fraser McLachlan is a long-term absentee after he twisted his knee in the opening-day draw against Hereford.
Dale team news
Rochdale boss Keith Hill is boosted by the return of captain Jones for the trip to their Lancashire rivals.
The midfield powerhouse missed Tuesday's 2-1 home defeat to Bradford in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy because of a virus but he looks certain to be passed fit to face the Shrimps.
Striker Chris O'Grady could return to the starting line-up after being ineligible to feature against the Bantams as Dale seek to bounce back from their midweek defeat.
Hill said: "I'm not bothered about the Johnstone's Paint Trophy now we're out. Had we won, brilliant, we'd be going though to the next round.
"But if I'm being honest, with respect to our preparation for Friday's game at Morecambe, Tuesday's match was more of a hindrance."
