Pools will be without Ben Clark for the trip to York City this evening (7.30pm kick-off) after the defender underwent a hernia operation which will keep him sidelined for around six weeks.

Ritchie Humphreys is another ruled out; he's suffering from an Achilles problem and will be unavailable for selection for a minimum of three weeks.

Sam Collins is in the starting line-up, with Gary Liddle partnering him in the centre of defence after impressing in the second half against Sheffield Wednesday; Peter Hartley slots in at left-back.

Denis Behan is set to make his first start in Pools colours. The striker - signed from Cork City on Monday - made a solid start to his career at The Vic as a second half substitute against The Owls.

"I liked what I saw from Denis on Tuesday night," he had a look at the players and then came on and did well," Chris Turner told us.

"He sat on the bench and had a look at the players, and then came on and impressed me and I am sure the supporters too.

"Now it's about finding the partnership which will work best up front," he added.

Pools: Flinders, Austin, Liddle, Collins, Hartley, McSweeney, Fredriksen, Sweeney, Monkhouse, Behan, Boyd.
Subs: Cook, Rowell, Jones, Foley, Mackay.