WHEN it comes to taking their season to the very end, Hartlepool United have been there before.

Those four occasions may have been in different circumstances - Pool were chasing the play-offs instead of survival - but the pressure is all the same.

It was only 12 months ago that a 2-2 draw at Bournemouth, with temporary manager Paul Stephenson acting as right hand man to Martin Scott, saw Pool celebrating on the last day.

And the first time it happened, six years back, Stephenson was part of the side.

Now he is calling on that experience to help his side this afternoon.

Pool must beat Port Vale and MK Dons have to win at Rotherham to ensure survival and avoid a return to League Two after three seasons at a higher level.

"We've good experience of our seasons going down to the last day,'' said Stephenson. "I played for the team at Hull in 2000 and we had to win and rely on other results going for us.

"It happened that day, it's happened since. We are capable of doing it and we have a good mentality within the club.

"Of course we draw on the experiences of the past few years when the last day has been important for the club.

"We have been chasing promotion in those situations and this is a different one, but it's the same in a way.

"Yes, this has been a disappointing season for us all and we are at the wrong end of the table.

"But if we get out of it then it will be viewed as a bit of a success. We have to make sure we do our bit.''

Four points in the last two games have given Pool a lifeline and Stephenson admits that was everything he could have hoped for after the last-gasp loss at Milton Keynes on Easter Monday.

"Three weeks ago we had one message - let's take this to the last game - and we have done it,'' he said.

"Everyone had us written off after losing at MK Dons but we had three games left and wanted to take it to the end. We've done that and now we have given ourselves a good chance.''

It was thanks to Micky Nelson's tidy finish at Brentford seven days ago that Pool were able to ensure today's game is no dead rubber.

The big defender, after failing to notch in the League this season, has scored in each of his last two games.

And Stephenson added: "Micky Nelson has had a good couple of weeks, he's got two in two now and he says he's on a roll. But it's not just his goals, he's been a man mountain for us at the back, as has Ben Clark.

"They have a great partnership at the back and they need to perform again on Saturday.

"We have to approach this game with the mentality that we have everything to gain and nothing to lose - at this moment in time we are in the bottom four and down.

"We need to win - simple as that - and then hope other results have gone for us. The biggest kick in the proverbials would be the other results going our way and us not doing our part.

"That would be awful for everyone - players, managers and fans. Let's live for this game and think about what's happened in the past.

"All we can do is think about one game - this one.

"We've had a good week and the lads have had a couple of days off because, from experience, we know that after long trips it's good for them to be refreshed at this stage of the season. There's a great atmosphere around the training ground and the club and we are looking forward to the challenge.''

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