REVENGE might be in the air at Underhill, but Hartlepool United boss Chris Turner is confident his charges can rise to the occasion.

Pool trounced Barnet 6-1 in a pre-Christmas Victoria Park feast and Turner is all too aware Tony Cottee's side will be going out this afternoon with a point to prove.

Pool have yet to lose this year - they haven't tasted defeat since going down 3-2 at Cardiff on November 25, a run of seven straight wins followed by two draws.

And Turner admitted: "They will be going all out to restore some pride after the December game, but I think they will have to be on their guard because they are playing a Hartlepool team in form and playing well.

"To be fair, the game could have ended 6-4 or 6-5, because it was end to end and very entertaining and I think this one can be as well.

"Only fools will think the same thing will happen again, because no two games are the same. That result will make it even harder for us, but this game will be just as hard as it was when we went to Chesterfield and Cheltenham as well.''

Player-manager Tony Cottee sat out the previous encounter, claiming he had an important game against Brighton to follow.

He will start this afternoon and Turner warned: "He will play and will obviously be a big threat in and around the penalty box. It's good for players to play against someone like him and they will have to be at their best to stop him from scoring.

"Darren Currie is an excellent player as well, very skilful and is the sort of player who can cause some real damage. But we both try and play football and the pitch at Underhill should suit us.''

Pool drew 1-1 in North London last season, thanks to James Coppinger's debut goal after he arrived on loan from Newcastle.

"We should have won last season, but it was another late goal that cost us,'' rued the Pool boss. "We played well there last season and we have no worries at all about going back.''

New recruit Neil Aspin will take his place on the bench, with Turner set to field the same side for the ninth game in a row.

"Neil is a solid player with plenty of experience,'' he said. "And it gives players a big lift when they see a new face arrive at the club. Neil is very pleased as well to be here.

"We've got two centre-halfs on the injured list for a few more weeks and Neil gives excellent cover on the bench. We've got cover for every position now, but in the last few weeks we haven't had a centre-half on there.

"If one of the three on the pitch get injured, then Neil will get his chance. If we didn't have Neil available, it would have meant swapping two places around and moving Mark Tinkler back in there.''

Aspin has been allocated the number 29 shirt and Turner added: "My only concern is that the lads on the bench are not getting enough football because the reserve games have been called off.

"Training has been badly affected for two or three months now. It's the worst year I can recall - we've had rain, floods, waterlogging, ice, snow, frost, everything.

"We've been training on the beach, which is like a throwback to the old days and every club has been affected across the country.''