MICKY Nelson has been passed fit for Saturday’s trip to Bristol Rovers. And with Hartlepool United’s League One status at stake, the captain is prepared to spill blood for the cause.

Nelson will play with seven stitches holding together a cut above his right eye, which happened in the last minute of Pools’ loss to Leeds United last weekend.

A draw will keep Pools up, and even a loss may prove enough, but Nelson said: “We are nearly there, almost safe.

Saturday’s Carlisle result was a good one, Crewe went for us on Friday night. If Carlisle win and we lose it’s down to goal difference – but there’s others involved as well, Brighton and Northampton.

“There’s still everything to play for and we need to go out and put in a performance.

“We have to be resilient and put on a show, but we are all out to stay in the league.

“We know all about their strikeforce – Darryl Duffy is a good striker who had a spell here and helped us get promoted and they have the division’s leading scorer in Rickie Lambert as well so we will have to be alert.’’ While Joel Porter is highly unlikely to make his final appearance for the club because of a hamstring strain, Nelson could also be saying farewell to the visiting fans.

Out of contract in the summer and attracting interest from Hibs, he said: “I didn’t get the chance last weekend to thank the fans after the game – I was on the bed in the dressing room getting my eye stitched up.

“I’m sure there will be a good following at Bristol on Saturday and it will give me the chance to say thank you for their support this season.

“I should be OK to play, they normally leave the stitches in for seven days, so I’ll get them taken out at the end of the season.

“We go down there, keep it tight with two banks of four and keep it tight.

“That’s all you can ask.

Nothing has changed and if we go down there and do a good job like we did at Crewe a couple of weeks ago, then that will do us.’’

■ Porter will be on Radio Hartlepool this evening from 7-9pm, alongside Jeff Winter, when he will take calls and answer questions from supporters.