NEIL AUSTIN could be on the sidelines with skipper Sam Collins for tomorrow’s trip to Bristol Rovers.

The right-back was forced off in the second-half of Saturday’s loss to Dagenham after being kicked in the calf.

Collins has missed the last three games with medial knee ligament damage, but has not been ruled out of the game at the Memorial Stadium.

Saturday’s trip to Peterborough, however, is a more likely outcome.

Mick Wadsworth was keen on making a signing last week, with Leicester City’s Academy centre-half Cian Bolger on trial.

But that deal failed to materialise and Pools could fnow ace him tomorrow night. Pirates’ stopper Danny Coles, formerly on loan at Pools, is suspended after being sent-off in the 4-0 loss at Carlisle.

“There’s no progress on getting a defender in, he’s gone to Bristol Rovers and there’s nothing happening at the moment,’’ said Wadsworth.

“Sam feels he has half a chance for Tuesday, but it’s not worth a risk. He is important to us and if we have to do without Tuesday, but have him Saturday that’s what we will do.

“Neil took a kick to the calf and it’s not like him to succumb to something, quite a knock, the danger is him getting any blood in there as it can get quite sore.’’ Defender Evan Horwood admitted the side was left disappointed with the outcome and flat second-half show at the weekend.

“It was frustrating with wind and it spoilt the game a bit,’’ he said. “But fair play to them, they caught us on the break and scored a good goal.

“They defended brilliantly – they set their stall out and did well.

“We probably didn’t deserve to win the game but it could have gone either way.

“The keeper made a good save from me and we had quite a few decent chances in the first half.

“At half-time I thought we would go out and score three, but it never happened for us after half-time.’’

■ Russ Green has returned to his role as chief executive at Victoria Park. He left in August when Chris Turner quit as director of football, but is now back with the club.