AARON HARDY could make a league debut for Town at Port Vale tomorrow (3.00).
The 20-year-old, whose only previous appearances have come in the Football League (now Johnstone's Paint) Trophy, is on standby to replace right-back Andy Holdsworth.
He damaged an ankle in training on Monday, and was facing a fitness test at Storthes Hall today.
The same went for goalkeeper Matt Glennon, who suffered a dead leg in Tuesday's disappointing 2-1 home defeat by Doncaster in the JPT first round.
He was replaced on 31 minutes by Paul Rachubka, who will start at Vale Park if Glennon doesn't recover.
Other than confirming the two fitness tests, Jackson wouldn't comment on his likely line-up.
Fans will be eager to discover whether he sticks with Nathan Clarke or hands rival centre-back John McCombe a first league outing of the season.
The boss is set to stick with the 4-5-1 formation which helped bring wins at Swansea and Bradford as Town aim to make it six league games unbeaten.
"It's the biggest pitch in the division and we have to be wary of their strength up front," he said
Jackson, whose side are 11th to Vale's seventh, added: "We have every incentive, because if we win and other results go our way, we could end up in the top six."
Port Vale (probable): Goodlad, McGregor, Miles, Harsley, Pilkington, Walker, Whitaker, Sonner, Sodje, Constantine, Smith. Subs (from): Talbot, Anyon, Moore, Cardle, Husbands, Prosser, Abbey.
Town (from): Glennon, Rachubka, Holdsworth, Hardy, Adams, Hudson, N Clarke, McCombe, McIntosh, Worthington, Collins, Young, Brandon, Schofield, Ahmed, Beckett, Booth, Abbott, McAliskey, Hand.
Ref: Nigel Miller (Co Durham).
