AFTER a successful change of roles, Antony Sweeney will be back in his usual position this afternoon - but the energetic midfielder hasn't ruled out a permanent change in the future.

Sweeney has played on both the right wing and up front in recent games but this afternoon, when Hartlepool meet Peterborough at Victoria Park, he will be back in his usual spot in the centre of midfield.

With Micky Nelson injured, Gary Liddle is likely to move into the back line, freeing up a slot alongside the impeccable Willie Boland in the centre of the park.

"Playing wide is different to what I am used to but it gives me the chance to get forward, which is a big part of my game, and allows me to concentrate less on the defensive side,'' he admitted.

"With the injury to Nelse I was moved back into the middle of the park against Grimsby and it took me a while to get my bearings back because you can't just keep bombing forward so much in that position.

"But I must say I do enjoy playing out wide.

"I think I prefer playing in the middle but over the last few games I have enjoyed being on the right side of midfield and I will play anywhere to get a game.

"Who is to say that won't become my new position in the future? We will just have to wait and see."

Sweeney was out of action for almost three months after damaging knee ligaments in September's 4-1 win at Grimsby.

His first start was marred by a red card in the FA Cup defeat at Macclesfield on December 2, but he has had no fitness problems while playing his part in Pools' seven-game winning run.

"As the games are coming along I am feeling a lot fitter,'' he said. "I was out for a couple of months and that set me back a bit and it was always going to take time to get my match fitness back.

"But gradually I am feeling better and better."

Pools' excellent run of results has propelled them into the promotion race and a win this afternoon, against a team three points and two places behind them, could go a long way towards closing a six-point gap separating Pools from an automatic promotion spot.

"Everyone is on a high at the moment,'' admitted Sweeney.

"The lads were just saying in the dressing room on Monday that the type of game (against Grimsby) earlier in the season could have ended up goalless or they might have snatched one and we would have ended up getting beaten.

"Confidence is high and we are showing a more patient side to our game now - if the goal doesn't come straight away we just keep plugging away.

"The gaffer's team talk at half-time was to stay patient and he said if we get the first goal we will win the game."

If Pools can come through the first eight minutes of today's game unscathed they will have gone ten hours without conceding a goal.

Nelson will be missing after tweaking knee ligaments against Grimsby and, while Sweeney was quick to pay tribute to the back line, he knows the commanding defender will be a miss.

"It is outstanding really this record, especially when you consider some of the teams we have met are really hard sides to play against,'' he admitted.

"For us to go that long without conceding a goal means the back five deserve a lot of praise, as do the lads who track back and head corners away and the like.

"We played them (Peterborough) at their place earlier in the season and they were a big, strong, physical side and that is where we will miss Nelse a bit.

"They might have Trevor Benjamin up front and they have two big centre halves who come up for corners, but we have our fair share of big lads and we will just have to cope with whatever they throw at us.

"Hopefully we will deal with their physical presence and still be able to play our football and get the right result."

Paul Ince may have already sparked a major revival for Macclesfield from the dug out but from next week he will also be able to influence their relegation battle on the pitch.

The 39-year-old arrived at Moss Rose in October with the Silkmen having failed to win a league match all season and a points tally of five from 15 matches suggesting they were bound for the Conference.

The former England international has turned that around and going into today's trip to relegation rivals Torquay, Ince's men are unbeaten in eight matches in all competitions and off the bottom of League Two.

Having played for Swindon after the transfer deadline he has been ineligible to play for Macclesfield. But Ince, who put in some impressive performances in the Championship with Wolves last season, will be available from January 1.

He said: ''I don't intend to play and the fact that the lads are doing so well means I can take my time, but we need as many bodies as we can get.