LEAGUE One is a relatively new experience for Hartlepool United this season, but for Jamie McCunnie it's a whole new ball game.

The right-back moved from the Scottish Premier League during the summer, swopping Dunfermline's East End Park for Victoria Park.

It's a move he's completed with ease, taking club captain Micky Barron's full back position in Danny Wilson's starting XI.

After five polished performances this season, the former Scottish under-21 cap will start against Oldham this afternoon.

The Latics, who could include Lee Hughes after he signed earlier this week following his release from prison, are an unknown quantity for McCunnie - but that's the case most weeks.

"I don't know too much about Oldham but I'm sure the manager will drill it into us,'' he said.

"We just concentrate on the way we play and get the ball down and pass it. We created a lot of chances at Sheffield Wednesday, so it's quite positive the way we are playing.

"But it's the same every week with me not knowing much about the opposition.

"It's totally different and I'm really enjoying it because up in Scotland you play the same teams four times and if you draw them in a cup it can be five or six times a season.

"Down here I don't know where many places are and I don't know much about the opposition.

"In the week leading up to the game we are very thorough and know the strengths and weaknesses of the individual players and the players you are up against.

"So although you don't know much at the start of the week, come the Saturday or the game during the week you know all about them.''

Six of Pools' opening eight games this season are on the road - today is only their second home game - and with plenty of long trips ahead, McCunnnie is spending plenty of time on England's motorways.

"I didn't realise how long some of the trips would be this season but the boys have been filling me in and we've got a few tricky journeys ahead of us,'' he admitted.

"But it's good for me. Every game is a new team and something I've never experienced before and I'm really enjoying it.

"The boys have helped me settle in. It can be unnerving moving away from home and if you don't get off to a good start you can be thinking, 'what have I let myself in for here?'

"But it's been great from day one, pre-season went well and in the games so far we have played some great stuff and won some good, hard games.

"We know it is going to be difficult this season but we've got to be positive and you never know what could happen.

"Probably the best we played was at Luton on the first day of the season.

"We were flying in the heat and created so many chances and were really disappointed after losing that game.''

McCunnie ended his career north of the border with an appearance at Hampden Park in last season's Scottish Cup final.

A single-goal defeat might not have been the best way to bid farewell, but he had no hesitation in signing for Pools.

"I had a good last six months at Dunfermline and when the new manager came in I felt myself improving as a player,'' he admitted.

"But I just wanted a wee change and I wouldn't have moved down here if I didn't think it was going to benefit me as a player.

"The manager sold the club to me, we've got good training facilities and we work a lot on strengths and weaknesses. If I didn't think I was going to improve I definitely wouldn't have come down here.

"But it just shows I think I've made the right decision.''

Pools lost out at Hillsbrough on Tuesday to a goal in the final minute of extra time.

Both sides had chances to win it in extra time, with Pools going close minutes before Wednesday's winner.

And McCunnie insists Pools can take solace from their performance.

"We weren't looking at penalties,'' he admitted. "We never spoke about it before the game or after the 90 minutes, we just wanted to win the game and had enough chances right until the end.

"Richard Barker had a chance right at the death even after they scored. I managed to cross it in and he was just unfortunate.

"Up the other end it fell right to their striker and he tapped in from two yards.

"It just never fell for us at the other end and if it did maybe we would have put it away, you never know.

"It's disappointing because we have been playing some good stuff so far this season and been getting good results."