IN two games against Premier League opposition at Victoria Park this season, Hartlepool United remain unbeaten – but Chris Turner knows that record will be put the sternest of tests tomorrow.

After seeing off West Brom in the Carling Cup and Stoke City in the FA Cup, West Ham United, managed by Gianfranco Zola, are next on the Hartlepool hit-list.

Early tomorrow afternoon, the ITV cameras will be filming what Turner, the caretaker manager, hopes will be the most famous win in Pools’ 100- year history – while “giving them hell”.

“The FA Cup is the greatest knock-out competition in the world and we’ve got every chance of securing a little niche in football folklore,’’ he admitted.

“I would think that West Ham will have taken notice of the fact we beat West Brom who are a very good football side and we beat Stoke who are strong, powerful unit.

“They will have seen enough to know that they will be in for a rough ride even though they have fantastic players. It will be a pleasure to have them here.

“For the 90 minutes we want to give them hell. Whatever the scoreline is it will be a very good day for Hartlepool United.’’ Turner steered Pools to victory over Stoke three weeks ago, and a welcome League One victory seven days ago ensured preparations for tomorrow have gone well.

The club’s director of sport picks from a full squad tomorrow and added: “Whatever happens on the day we have the opportunity to be mega giant-killers this year.

“If we can get a result against West Ham it will be absolutely fantastic for the club. I’m not daft and I realise they have an fantastic array of talent, but you know that if they come here in the right frame of mind, which I’m sure they will do, and they play to their strengths they will make life very difficult for us.

“But it’s a great opportunity for the players to go head to head with some of the best in the business and it will be fascinating for the fans to watch. I know it’s a cliché but in football anything is possible.

Obviously we need a little bit of luck or West Ham to be off-key.

“There have been FA Cup upsets throughout the course of the competition’s history.

That’s because when it’s your day, it’s your day. I know my team will give 100 per cent effort and commitment and if that’s enough to beat them on the day then so be it.’’ Pools have never met West Ham and Zola has never been to Hartlepool.

But the Italian, a football genius during his playing days with Chelsea, has, unlike plenty of managers even in League One, been doing his homework on Pools.

‘’They are a good team and try to play football. They have some very interesting players, some quick players and play quite differently from being a League One side,’’ he admitted.

“They try to play football and are a good team. I do respect them and I know they’re a decent side and we won’t put out a weakened team for sure.

“If they beat us then it’s because they played much better than us. We won’t underestimate them, that’s for sure.

I’ve never played there but I know it’s a good pitch.’’