NEALE COOPER is heeding the advice of others - and he's ready to take the game to Queens Park Rangers this afternoon.

Cooper's Hartlepool are at Loftus Road to face the leaders. And while Pool sit in a healthy fifth spot, Rangers are widely regarded as the division's best side.

Ian Holloway's side also top both the form table and scoring charts and Cooper believes the only way to combat the threat is to send his side out all guns blazing.

While Pool hold the nation's longest unbeaten home stretch of 27 games, QPR are in second place - having gone 13 games since they lost on home turf.

And Cooper, who will hand new signing Chris Shuker a debut in midfield in place of suspended Mark Tinkler, admitted: "Other managers have told me they are the best in the division and if we go there to defend we will get battered, so I think we need to have a go at them.

"It will be a very tough game for us and our record in and around London isn't the best.

"Tinks will be a big miss because what we have seen of him over the last couple of weeks is the best he has played all season."

While Cooper is delighted with the form shown by Tinkler of late, he has talked to Ritchie Humphreys this week to try to get him back to the form which saw him lift the club's player-of-the-year award last season.

On his arrival, Cooper listed Tinkler and Humphreys as two of his major players, but the latter has yet to reach the heights of last season.

He could be moved from the wing to a more central role this afternoon, as highly-rated Shuker makes his bow.

Shuker has arrived on loan from Manchester City, but there's every chance a permanent deal could follow if he impresses.

City chief Kevin Keegan has already revealed the 20-year-old will be allowed to leave when his contract expires in the summer.

Shuker has been on loan at Rochdale this season and joins Danny Byrne, who arrived from Manchester rivals United last month, in the Pool midfield.

Cooper said: "He can play on either flank or through the middle up front.

"We've watched him a few times and asked about him earlier on in the season but Kevin wanted to hang on to him.

"He is very quick and gives us an extra dimension to our play and that little bit of pace we have been lacking at times this season.

"Shuker is a quality player. It is nice that we are able to bring in players from the likes of Manchester City and Manchester United - and it's good of clubs like these to help us and allow their players to come.

"He is not the type of player you can play through the middle of midfield so he will not be a straight swap for Tinks."

"It means we will have to look at the way we play and we may have to move Ritchie inside.

"But it gives us an extra dimension to our game, as does Danny Byrne".

"He is very, very quick and that is something we have been missing. He is the sort of player we can make use of at places like QPR.''

Shuker is not cup-tied and, providing permission is granted, will be available for the FA Cup third round tie at Sunderland on Saturday, January 3.

Pool yesterday revealed that the clubs have been at loggerheads this week as they failed to agree on ticket prices for the tie.

Sunderland wanted to reduce the prices in line with their usual approach to Cup ties at the Stadium of Light.

But Pool, who could rake in around £250,000 from the tie, wanted the normal Stadium of Light prices to stand.

The Football Association had to intervene and they decided in the home club's favour.

A Pool spokesman said: "If a reduced price had to be agreed then the club supported a compromise between Sunderland's normal gate prices (£23/£12) and their proposed reduced price (£15/£7).

"However, the FA have made the ruling in favour of Sunderland and we fully support this substantial reduction in prices to give full benefit to our supporters despite the fact it is not in the best interests of this club's future financial stability. We once again question the ability of the football authorities to make good economic judgements."

At the club's AGM this month, chairman Ken Hodcroft revealed the club's frustrations at the manner in which the game is run.

The spokesman added: "We are continually amazed by both the FA and the Football League. On one hand they tell clubs to get their finances in order with the threat of a ten-point penalty for going into administration and on the other hand deny clubs the opportunity of raising additional revenue.''