FOCUSED Hartlepool United manager Chris Turner won't be dragged into the derby hype this afternoon.

Turner has engineered a low profile among his players ahead of this afternoon's Victoria Park clash with Darlington.

And with a trip to Leyton Orient to come on Monday, the Pool chief is looking at the longer term picture.

In four Division Three derby encounters with Quakers, Turner has yet to taste defeat and the Pool boss admitted: "It is an important game and it will be a difficult one - I wouldn't expect anything else - but we are focused on the long term.

"We go to Leyton Orient on Monday and Darlington have Bristol Rovers to think about so whatever happens on Saturday is quickly forgotten about either way.

"The fans live off the banter of a derby game, these games are for the fans.''

Pool have triumphed at Victoria Park in each of the last two seasons, with the game providing a platform for Turner's side to spring up the table. This time around the game is only the third League game of the season.

Turner said: "I don't think the fact that the game is so early will affect us. It is exciting for everyone that it is so early in the season.

"We've both had two League games and we are pleased with the start we have had to the season. Again, it's a game that the fans look out for straight away and it's heightened with it coming along so early. In the last couple of seasons we have gone into the first game a quarter of the way into the season looking for a lift and then gone to Feethams looking to continue our good form.

"But this is different - it's at the start and no-one has a real good or bad run of form.''

Pool went out of the Worthington Cup in midweek, going down to Nottingham Forest at Victoria Park. But Turner's side came out of the game with glowing praise from national television pundits and Turner said: "It was important that we tried to play football and we were positive. Our pattern of play was excellent and we created a lot of chances.

"No-one expects you to win a game like that and if you do then it is a great achievement.

"The main thing was to put on a show for the fans and the people watching on television and we did just that. We got a standing ovation at the end from our supporters - I think they appreciated how we played; they are a hard public to please at times!

"After the Forest game someone asked me if we could get out of this division by playing as much football as we did in that game and I am sure we can.

"The days of Third Division sides having two big strikers up front have long gone. A lot of teams at this level try to play good football. Pitches have improved and that makes it easier to play a passing game and I would love to get out of this division by keeping those standards up.''

Turner has added Welsh under-18 striker Jermaine Easter to his squad after he served a three-game ban following his red card against Blackpool in last season's play-offs.

The pacy front-runner has been in goalscoring form in pre-season and netted against Newcastle in a midweek friendly. "It's a great plus for us to have Jermaine back in contention,'' said Turner. "He gives us pace and strength and will cause problems for defenders.

"He has had an excellent pre-season and he has impressed everyone in the squad with the way he has worked in training. In practice games the back three have all known they have been in a game when he has been around.''

Turner had Easter under his wing during his time as youth coach at Wolves and signed him from Molineux last season. "Jermaine has never trained with first team players before he came here. He was involved with the academy and youth team at Wolves and there is a big step up to training every day with experienced footballers.

"Last season he had a taste of it, but has come back pre-season looking sharp and confident. He has concentrated his efforts on becoming a better player. I think he has learnt from the Blackpool episode and knows he has missed out on an early chance this season because of it.''

* The game is all-ticket with no tickets on sale today. Clarence Road will be closed this afternoon from Museum Road to the junction with Marina Way.

Read more about Hartlepool here.