HARTLEPOOL United boss Chris Turner last night warned his players not to underestimate relegated Halifax Town.

Pool travel to The Shay knowing only three points will do if they are to keep their hopes of a Third Division play-off place alive.

Halifax, who were condemned to life in the Nationwide Conference after Monday's 5-0 defeat at Darlington, may have nothing to play for but Turner is convinced his side will have to beware.

"There's no hiding that this is going to be a difficult game for us," he said. "They know they're going down and all they have to play for is pride.

"We are not taking it lightly and all of my players will have to be aware and focused on putting in a good performance.

"Halifax beat Cheltenham a couple of weeks ago so they are capable of good results and we will have to be on top of our game."

Pool lie five points behind seventh-placed Scunthorpe with three games to play.

Scunthorpe take on fifth-placed Rushden & Diamonds at Glanford Park this afternoon and the outcome could have a huge effect on the Victoria Park club's promotion chances.

But Turner insists he will not be keeping one eye on proceedings down the road at Scunthorpe.

"It's a big game," said the Pool chief, whose remaining matches are at home to Swansea and away at Exeter. "But all I'm concerned with is that we win our last three games.

"If we do that then that's all I can ask of the players.

"We've won our last two against Plymouth and Oxford and I was really delighted with the way we played against Plymouth.

"But those results will mean very little if we don't follow them up with a victory at Halifax."

Turner is still without nine-goal midfielder Mark Tinkler against Neil Redfearn's men.

Tinkler has trained this week but he has been unable to fully recover from the knee injury which kept him out of the Easter games with Plymouth and Oxford.

But Turner is convinced the midfield pairing of Darrell Clarke and Ritchie Humphreys will be able to reproduce the form they showed over the Bank Holiday weekend.

"The injury to Mark is not serious but we don't want to risk him," said Turner. "He has still been feeling it so we thought we wouldn't play him.

"We just felt that it was pointless risking him when it was still niggling.

"Both Darrell and Ritchie have been doing well alongside each other and I'm confident they can do it again.

"Darrell in particular is playing well at this moment and we need him to be busy again at Halifax."

Former Pool strikers Craig Midgley and Gary Jones are both at Halifax now, but the latter will not be involved this afternoon as he starts a three-match suspension. He is out of contract this summer and is unlikely to play for the club again.

Midgley, freed last summer after helping Pool to a play-off place, is likely to start up front.

He was hauled off at Feethams last Monday, receiving a rating of four in The Northern Echo.

But Turner praised the Bradford-born 25-year-old for his time under his leadership.

"Craig played well and worked hard while he was at the club and I would not say anything bad against him," he said. "But now we have got players like Gordon Watson here and I feel we have added more strength to our squad since Midge left."

Turner revealed he had offered Midgley a new contract during last season, but after his agent failed to take up the offer, the striker was released at the end of the season.

Turner added: "He has not had regular football at Halifax this year.

"He started the season with a goal on the first Saturday afternoon then seemed to disappear for six or seven months. Now he has reappeared and scored a couple of goals.

"Craig will see it as a big day for him and he will be buzzing. He will do everything in his power to get Halifax the win I am sure."

Meanwhile, Halifax's caretaker boss Redfearn is likely to give youth its chance between now and the end of the campaign.

Nicky Heinemann and Craig Smith are both expected to make their full debuts.

"The fact is I want to bring these young lads in," said Redfearn. "They have been here for a fortnight and when I brought them in I said they were here on merit. I want to have a look at them.

Read more about Hartlepool here.