Speaking to the Mansfield CHAD Website, boss Peter Shirtliff said "Simon is looking sharp and so far has had no reaction so we are hopeful he will be in contention on Saturday," said manager Peter Shirtliff.
"He was on top form when he suffered his injury and we have missed him.
"We will certainly miss Richie on Saturday. He has done well for us and not got the credit he deserves at times.
"He has also not been given the service he deserves at times as well.
"But we have to carry on without him like we did over Christmas."
Meanwhile the opposition are looking to cement their play off push. Talking to Quakersworld, Darlington assistant manager Mark Proctor said "We'd like to stay in that situation on merit and hopefully not rely on other results to keep us there. We've got two good fixtures coming up, Mansfield on Saturday. We are not taking it likely but it's a winnable game for us with them struggling."
"If you have said a month ago we were going to be seventh we would have all laughed because we were on the back of an indifferent run and we were getting a little bit of criticism and rightly so.We've had a good Christmas period and we have taken that into January."
"The form is good but I think our performances could improve to be honest. The good thing, and we are pleased about it, is we are not firing on all cylinders but yet winning games. We don't look like conceding goals which is a plus and we are always likely to nick one. It bodes well for the future."