MARK Robinson has looked at the play-offs from the outside - and now he is desperate to be a part of it.

The Hartlepool United left-back will be part of the Pool side at Exeter this afternoon as Chris Turner aims to steer the club into the play-offs for the third time in a row.

Two seasons ago when Pool made the play-offs on the last day, Robinson was part of the travelling squad and the experience of being at Boothferry Park means he knows what to expect this afternoon.

And now he's determined to make up for lost time.

"It could be a hell of a weekend for us,'' he admitted "I'm sure there will be plenty of fans there.

"A few months ago we thought nothing of this game whatsoever; the way we have gone on in the last few games has been unbelievable.

"Imagine if we had had a couple more wins in our first ten games - where would we be now?

"If we had won three or four of them we would be up there in the automatic places.''

Pool last week trounced Swansea 7-1 at Victoria Park - their fourth win in a row - to give everyone a huge lift ahead of this afternoon's encounter.

He added: "To be honest I was really nervous going into last week's game with Swansea, it was the most nervous I've been,'' he admitted. Before the game last week we were just saying we had to concentrate about what we were doing and don't think about elsewhere and we have to do the same this week.

"It was a case of if we win then look over our shoulders. We found out during the game that Scunthorpe were losing. There was a bit of a roar and all the players were asking 'have Darlington scored? What's happened?'

"And when we heard the roars we stepped on the gas. We went in at half-time in front, but to be honest it could have been a game at 1-1.

"At 2-1 we knew if we kept on doing what we were doing and knew if we got a third goal we would kill them off. They had nothing to play for but pride and we punished them.

"That was the best performance I have played in, to be honest the Scunthorpe game at home was enjoyable as well, but I think last week topped it.''

Robinson was forced off last week, but he won't be missing out this afternoon. "I twisted my knee a little bit and we were 5-1 up - I wanted to make sure I'm okay for Exeter.''

Micky Barron also saw his game cut short last week and the skipper is rated at 50-50 by manager Chris Turner. Turner said: "It's a case of wait and see for Micky, but we know that whatever team we send out we will be positive.

"We will put the ball in the right areas to hurt them and hopefully things go our way.

"If we win we will have 71 points for the season and it will be the third season in a row we have managed it and that is a great achievement. We will hopefully play like we did at Oxford and Carlisle when we went away from home and did a professional job.

"Winning would mean eight away wins this season and it's not a bad total. We have made up 20 or 25 points on a lot of teams this season and if we finish eighth then it's still been a good season.''

Pool assistant boss Colin West is good friends with Exeter boss John Cornforth from their time at Sunderland and Cornforth said: "I have known Westy since I was probably eight or nine.

"We were in the same football team, then I went to Sunderland and I was his apprentice for a while.

"I have always kept in touch with him and he is probably my best mate in football. We get on superbly well.''

Pool - expecting be backed by up to 1,000 supporters today - have not been in the top seven this season and hope today that either Rushden (at Halifax) or Shrewsbury (at home to Luton) slip up. If those results go Pool's way and Turner's side get three points, Pool are in the play-offs. Anything less than three points means Pool cannot catch seventh spot.

Read more about Hartlepool here.