GERARD Nash will certainly be in for a tougher time this afternoon than he was on his debut - but the Hartlepool United defender is relishing the prospect.

Nash arrived at Pool on loan from Ipswich and made a comfortable bow seven days ago as Pool kept only their fifth clean sheet of the season against Tranmere.

Today, he will line up alongside Micky Nelson as Pool make their first visit to Swansea City's new 20,000 all-seater Liberty Stadium.

Against the division's leading scorers - Swansea have bagged 52 goals this season, but will be without injured Lee Trundle this afternoon - Pool, without a win since December 10, can expect a busy time.

But Nash said: "I am here to get some first team football and I enjoyed playing on Saturday. Hopefully, I can play again at Swansea because I will have to play well to stay in the side.

"It is great to be here because this is a massive challenge for me.

"The spirit amongst the lads is fantastic.

"They have made me very welcome and you could see the determination in the side on Saturday.

"Everyone is working hard and digging in and I am sure we will be winning games sooner rather than later.

"The physical stuff is our bread and butter as defenders and I enjoy it.

"Clean sheets are everything to us and to get them you need to work hard and put your body in the way of everything.

"We had a clean sheet on Saturday. Hopefully we can have another this week and nick something at the other end.''

Nash has suffered with injuries in recent times, needing knee reconstruction after damaging ligaments and has made only a single appearance for Joe Royle's side.

Royle was happy to send him to the North-East and former Irish youth international Nash said: "I enjoy being at Ipswich but I am looking forward to playing and doing as well as I can here at Hartlepool.

"I have had a couple of horrendous years with injury so it is great to be back playing again.

"League One is a good standard and Hartlepool try to play football which suits me as well.

"I enjoyed the game last week, it was a cracking experience. It was obviously very difficult going down to ten men - when that happens you have to be happy with a point.

"I thought that we were the better side but we couldn't find the goal we wanted.

"Even after the sending off, I think we played the better football and it is disappointing not to win. With a bit of luck we could have nicked it.

He added: "I think the whole back four were awesome.

"The other three lads at the back made it easy for me. Nelse (Micky Nelson), Micky Barron and Ritchie Humphreys helped me through it and Nelse was a pleasure to play alongside.''

Nelson was man of the match last week as he took on board the responsibility of helping Nash through the game.

And boss Scott paid tribute to him. "Micky Nelson is a leader and he showed it last week.

"I've told him that and I've told him recently that I wanted to see more of it.''

After the arrival of Nash, defender Darren Craddock has gone on loan to Conference side York City.

He has made seven appearances this season, four in League One, the last in the 2-1 home defeat to Southend on December 27.