Jimmy Keohane played an hour in a behind-closed-doors game earlier this week, as he steps up his rehab from a broken foot.
Dale were 1-0 winners over League One opposition in the match, thanks to a goal from Luke Charman, who also played the full 90 minutes after suffering a bang to the knee in training last week.
“Jimmy played 55-60 minutes, in his first comeback game,” said Robbie Stockdale.
“Although he’s going to be short in terms of being available for the first team, that can only be a help and benefit to him.
“I think it’s more a psychological thing as well, coming back from a broken bone in your foot and going in for that first proper tackle. That will do him the world of good, coming through fine.
“Somebody like a Luke, who has needed to get on the pitch for minutes, played the full game, did well, and comes into contention for Saturday’s game.”
The gaffer also confirmed that Paul Downing and Josh Andrews continue to be sidelined, with the former missing for another couple of weeks due to a groin injury.
“It’s kind of what we suspected. The injury is a little bit different to what a normal groin injury would be.
“He’s still fairly sore and will probably be a couple of weeks at least, I’d say, from now.
“That’s obviously a blow, because I think everybody can see what Paul has brought to not the only the team, but the environment as well. We’ve got a very calming figure that looks a class act on the pitch, but acts like a class act off it as well.
“I’m going over old ground, but the January window was important for me to try and bring some characters in like that, and even though he’s not available on the pitch, he only adds to what we’ve got."