THERE may be a few places and a couple of divisions between them, but Chris Turner insists there is no danger of his Hartlepool United players taking anything for granted this afternoon.

Kettering Town, managed by ex-Pools midfielder Mark Cooper, will be seeking an FA Cup upset at Victoria Park.

The Poppies last season saw off Lincoln, Notts County and Eastwood Town to reach the fourth round, where they lost to Fulham in a replay.

But Pools know about the enjoyment of reaching the same stage after facing West Ham at that stage of the competition last season.

They beat non-league opposition in Fleetwood on their way to meeting the Hammers and Turner knows the value of a good cup run.

“It’s an opportunity for all clubs below the Premiership to play others from other divisions and hopefully play a game which boosts the finances with a big pay-day, like last season,’’ he said.

“Kettering are doing well this season. The Conference, I think, is a better division than League Two in places.

Clubs are better off financially, stadiums are getting up to date, Kettering have a good cup history.

“It’s a massively tough game for us, nothing less. And they get the same respect as if we were playing Stoke or West Ham, like we did last season, or anyone else.

“Mark Cooper was manager of Tamworth when they beat us a few years ago, but it’s always harder for the League sides as favourites.

“People talk about them beating Lincoln and Notts County last season – we have beaten Stoke, West Brom, Coventry, and took Burnley and West Ham to tough games.

“It’s all about the day, what happens on Saturday.’’ Turner added: “Of course you want to be at home, whatever competition, whatever opposition. But are they real shocks these days? There’s been that many times in the past when smaller clubs beat Football League clubs – it’s all on the day.

“If it goes against you on the day, players play 20 per cent better and quicker and stronger than they normally do. It can happen.

“We have to go out and show Kettering total respect, which they will do, and attack them.

“If we were playing any team from League One at home on Saturday we would expect to win, so why should we go out and be any different this time around.’’ Pools have gone four games without loss to move into the top half of League One and, while James Brown, Leon Mc- Sweeney and Ritchie Jones are likely to be absent through injury, Turner admitted: “Total respect (for Kettering) is running throughout the club. There will be no changes, no matter who we were playing.

“It’s four games without defeat and it’s all about confidence.

“If we get through then it’s more games without defeat at home. We want another league game and we are only eight points behind second place – we aren’t doing too badly.

“We want this out of the way and then bring on Leyton Orient next weekend.’’ Cooper, then Tamworth boss, orchestrated a win in December 2005, as Pools gave an awful performance.

He was part of a few similar displays as a Pools player himself during 1996/7 and knows the role the Victoria Park crowd can play.

“We’ll be trying to make life as uncomfortable as possible for Hartlepool,” Cooper admitted.

“If they don’t give us respect and their levels drop then we have a chance of doing something.

“But I’m sure they’ll plan just as they would for a League One game.

“We are glad it’s away from home with Hartlepool’s home record.

“I know what it’s like up there. If you are not winning after ten minutes, the crowd get on to the players’ backs.

“We have got a good away record and we are hoping they have another off day.’’