WANDERERS may be forced to run the gauntlet at Port Vale without two men who have thrived after being handed a clean slate in the summer.

Club captain Darren Pratley and target man Gary Madine will both be assessed shortly before kick off today as Phil Parkinson’s men aim to stay ahead of the chasing pack.

Pratley has been struggling with a hamstring problem, while Madine has not played since suffering a shoulder injury at Southend earlier this month.

And although both have been grafting behind the scenes in order to play a part in the Potteries this afternoon, the manager is preparing to send his men out without two of his on-field leaders.

“By this stage we’ve worked on what the team will be,” said Parkinson. “We’ve got one or two injury doubts, Darren Pratley has got a tight hamstring and in fairness to Daz he has been an absolute warrior for us, he’s carried on over the last few weeks.

“We’ll leave it until late tomorrow to have a look at him, and obviously Gary (Madine) is making good progress so we’ll just have to see how he’s doing too.

“He’s been out for a few weeks now but he’s keen to be involved and I can only reiterate what I’ve said before, we’ve got a good medical team, the doctor, physios and myself will sit down and decide when the time’s right for Gaz but he has been working hard this week.

“He’s running a lot and trying to make sure that when he does get back out there he’s got that fitness level to go and put in a good performance.”

Should the fitness of two such vital cogs fail them and throw a spanner in the machine Parkinson will not be too down-hearted.

That is because he feels he can, and will, look to any number of other players who could put in the performance that will see them etch their names in Wanderers’ folklore today.

“It may be time for people to step up to the plate, maybe people who haven’t figured that much, perhaps someone from the bench to go and produce that special moment, that’s what it’s all about,” he said.

“People can make themselves heroes and be remembered for a long time at this stage, so the stage is set for us to continue showing our qualities and show why we’ve been at the top all season.”

His side have rarely been out of at least the play-off spots throughout his first season at the Macron but he insists, if they do secure promotion, it has been far from straightforward.

And, backed by another big following, eager to start the party at the earliest possible chance, it makes for an interesting afternoon, particularly as the hosts have their own reasons for needing the points.

A draw does not serve Port Vale especially well as they sit two points behind Bury. But, although they play their game in hand at Walsall on Tuesday, they are unlikely to shut up shop and hope to take a point. And if they try to play on the front foot the Whites will fancy their chances of ending their three-game goal drought.

“The fans will be behind us again, which will be great for us,” said Parkinson.

“I was there the other week when Sheffield United played there and it’s a cracking atmosphere.

“I saw them against Shrewsbury as well and in fairness to the Port Vale fans, even though there’s not loads of them, they really get behind their team, they really do.

“It’s a massive pitch and you need the qualities in your team. The distances between your units all over the pitch have got to be right so you don’t get stretched.

“But it’s a pitch where you can get the ball down and play on it, we’ve got the players who can do that.”