THERE’S a target for Hartlepool United to reach and one which needs a second-half improvement if they are to make it.

Ahead of today’s game at Dover, Pools are halfway through the season. They have 31 points from 23 games – which is behind the minimum tally Harrison is demanding.

Come the end of the season a play-off spot is the least Pools hope for.

But to reach Harrison’s first landmark of 70 points – which should be enough to make the end of season shake up as Pools aim to get back into the Football League at the first time of asking – they need to improve.

They have already lost to today’s opponents on the opening day of the season and the opposition are in fifth spot, seven points ahead of Pools.

Chucking away victory last week at home to Macclesfield, when Pools shipped two goals in the last five minutes, left everyone deflated and disappointed.

"The festive period was always going to be vital because the games come thick and fast,’’ said Harrison.

"You have an opportunity to get a lot of points in a short spell of time, 12 points are there to play for.

"That's important, that's a good thing.

"Come January we could be in a far better position with a good run over the festive period.

"I've said we need 70 points, however we get them, we're going to need 40 points in the second half of the season and we could get a quarter of them in the next four or five games.

"That's the big challenge for the players to take on board.

"It's all about points but I have seen the performances get better, certainly the last few home games.’’

He added: "Tranmere and Macclesfield are going to be top eight at the end of the season and we've played well against both. Sutton was a good display too and they are sitting at the top of the league.

"We need to try to kill teams off or if we can't then do your jobs properly and defend a 1-0 lead.’’

Today’s opponents gave Pools a welcome to the National League when they pinched a victory at Victoria Park back in August, during Pools stuttering start to the campaign.

They have former Pools loan striker Ryan Bird up front and Harrison – likely to recall Sunderland loanee Michael Ledger back to the starting XI today – admitted: "It's going to be a physical game.

"They are what they are but you have to say their manager has done a fantastic job.

"His mindset at the start of the season has been clear, 'we're going to go man for man'.

"We're know what to expect, set-plays, long throws, they are a big physical team.

"We need to make sure we don't get caught up in that, we need to go and play how we can play.

"It's important you don't get embroiled into a fight.

"You don't see a boxer get dragged into a slugging match if he has a glass chin.

"I'm not saying we have a glass chin, but it's horses for courses.

"You do have to be cute and not get dragged into their game.

"Dover have a game-plan and they are very good at it. They are hard to beat, hard to break down, they go man for man.

"The important thing we have a game plan we've spoken about and gone through in training and how we want to set out our stall.’’

Pools set off yesterday morning and trained at Peterborough en route on their longest trip of the season.

Long hauls are the norm in the National League and Harrison said: "We take into consideration the travel time.

"Usually the players would have a Wednesday off, but this week they are having Thursday off because we are travelling Friday.

"The last thing we want is them feeling stiff going down to Dover.

"We'll take five per cent off over the training sessions and then we'll train half way down at Peterborough just to break up the journey.

"We did something similar for Torquay where we trained at Aston Villa.

"We must make sure the accumulative fatigue at the end of the week is a little less than it might be if you were at home on the Saturday.

"You have to take into account the travel times.’’