CRAIG Harrison will see a different side to his Hartlepool United squad this week.

After three friendlies against non league opposition in the last week, Pools tonight take on Sunderland at Victoria Park.

Then on Saturday, they go to St Johnstone, who beat Sunderland 3-0 last week.

Simon Grayson will send a full strength squad this evening, while Harrison appears unlikely to chop and change his side during tonight’s game.

“There will be a more concentrated group and we’ll be looking to get 90 minutes into players against Sunderland and St Johnstone,” Harrison said. “St Johnstone have been in the Europa League for a few weeks now so will be in a good stage of fitness and obviously Sunderland are a Championship club. They will be two good tests.”

After defeat at Harrogate on Saturday he admitted: “I said to the lads that we can’t be sensitive about being told what we did wrong – if we are going to get better we have to accept that.

“But we have a good group of players who want to improve.

“Pre-season is about getting to know everyone, getting to see what people are good at, what they are not so good at.

“It’s about preparing for the Dover game on August 5 and there’s more to it than winning.”

Among a welter of new signings this summer is striker Jake Cassidy. He has experience of playing in the National League, and top scored for Guiseley last season.

He worked under Harrison in the League of Wales and after signing for Pools admitted: “This is a massive club.

“Everyone knows all about the disappointment of going down but hopefully we can hit the ground running in what is a tough league.

“The positivity flows from the gaffer. He is positive in everything that he does.

“There is absolutely no need to not be positive - there is a good fanbase here and it is a big club. The squad we are building we know we can achieve things this season.

“We have got the talent here to go straight back up.

“It is disappointing for the lads who were here that they are playing at this level. The quality is there, we know that, and the lads who the manager has added will only bring even more quality to the team.’’

Cassidy should be involved tonight after missing out at Harrogate with a niggle.

And he warned ahead of the new season: “It is a difficult league - hard, fast, physical.

“With only one going up automatically there seems to be a lack of respect for the league.

“There is not enough appreciation at the quality at this level.

“There is no difference between the bottom of League Two and the National League. There are some big clubs down here and there are really good players knocking around, too.’’

Admission tonight is £10 and £5 concessions and there will be a minute’s applause in memory of Bradley Lowery before the game.