DETERMINED Hartlepool United boss Chris Turner last night saluted the managerial talents of Brian Little.

Pool entertain Little's Hull this afternoon looking to cement their play-off position against one of their top-seven rivals, who have forced their way into the reckoning despite a season of turmoil that saw the club on the brink of closure.

Weeks of promotion uncertainty ended on Thursday with the decision from the FA inquiry into financial irregularities at Chesterfield. Pool now enter the final stage of the campaign knowing a play-off place is their most likely reward.

Amid talk of relegation to the Conference or a 50-point deduction, Division Three leaders Chesterfield were hit with a paltry nine-point deduction and a £20,000 fine.

Turner and Pool officials yesterday maintained a diplomatic silence and instead the Pool chief has turned his attentions to this afternoon's all-ticket clash.

"Brian is an experienced manager who has cut it at the highest level,'' said Turner. "This season he has done very well against all the odds. It would have been easy for him to walk away during their troubles, but he has stuck it out and they have come good.

"I think one thing in their favour is their fan base - even when they were in mid-table they were still getting six or seven thousand and I'm sure that has spurred everyone on to keep things going.

"Because of that maybe Brian realises what sort of club they could be in the future and if they don't make the play-offs this season then they must be looking at promotion next year.''

Pool lie in fourth place, six points and four places above Hull and with just five games to go and they could yet face The Tigers in the play-offs.

But Turner is focused on putting last week's defeat at southend - their first in 22 outings - to bed and securing the points to tie up a play-off berth.

"We have three home games to go and now we know where we stand,'' said Turner. "This should be an excellent game between two form teams in front of a big crowd.

"Last season we beat Hull to get into the play-offs and it was one of those days when everything goes in your favour. We were two goals up after ten minutes and even with ten men we still looked good.

"But we lost at Southend last week and I sense a real determination among the players to start again.

"Sometimes you only realise things when they are not there and in training this week you can see that the determination and desire has been there.

"I think there has been a weight lifted off our shoulders and hopefully that will be carried on to the pitch on Saturday.

"What we have just done has been a fantastic achievement and now we need to go on a little five - possibly eight - game run.

"Of course we were disappointed to lose last week, but there might be some good to come from it.''

Turner will have Paul Stephenson and Anth Lormor back in contention, while Graeme Lee is in the squad for the first time this season after recovering from cruciate ligament surgery.

"I thought that last week we maybe lacked a bit of physical strength and Anth will bring us that back. Stevo has recovered from flu and he gives us that little bit extra in midfield. It will be nice to see Spike back in the frame because he is such a good player.

"Everyone is fit and available and it's great to have a full squad to choose from at this stage of the season when things are there to play for. It keeps everyone on their toes and there might be one or two disappointed players out there.''

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