HARTLEPOOL United meet up with an old adversary tonight.

Neale Cooper's side go to Oldham in the LDV Vans Trophy, with referee Frazer Stretton in charge.

Stretton and Pool have never got on in the past - former boss Chris Turner made an official complaint about the Nottingham whistler after his handling of the game at Rochdale three years ago.

And he has dished out two red cards and awarded two penalties against Pool in recent years.

But his last two games in charge of Pool have passed without incident - against Cambridge last season at Victoria Park and at Hull in February 2002.

The teams have met before this season, a goalless Victoria Park draw on September 6.

Pool won't be returning to the North-East tonight with a draw, the game must be finished tonight with either a silver goal in extra-time or a penalty shoot-out if necessary.

Mark Tinkler gave a superb performance in last Friday's 1-1 draw with Sheffield Wednesday - but should be back in midfield tonight with Chris Westwood returning to the back line.

Boss Neale Cooper joked "There's no way Westie's coming back in now" but he won't leave a player like Westwood out for long.

"Mark has a new nickname after Friday - Der Kaiser!" said Cooper. "I thought he was a different class in defence.

"I asked him to drop back from the midfield to play there and it looked like he had been playing there for ever. He never put a foot wrong.

"I knew we would lose his strength in midfield, but Wednesday had two big lads up front and we wanted to match them. I had three options, but I felt the other boys were not quite right.''

Cooper is likely to give Anthony Williams a chance in goal tonight.

The keeper started the season as No 1, but was axed after conceding three in the opening day win at Peterborough and Jim Provett has impressed since getting his chance.

Adam Boyd could have a rare start, his first of the season, with Cooper considering a rest for Marco Gabbiadini. Boyd was a lively substitute on Friday and has impressed Cooper in the last couple of reserve games.

* The silver goal rule replaces the golden goal rule and means that if a team is ahead at the end of either period of extra time, they win.

* Former Pool striker Gordon Watson is unlikely to play again.

He was due to sign for Sheffield Wednesday during the summer, but suffered a serious knee injury. Turner admits: "I don't think he will be back.

"He is now involved in other businesses and, to be honest, I think he only wanted to play for me and Colin West.'

Read more about Hartlepool here.