CRAIG HARRISON is happy with how stage two of his pre-season programme is going.

After easing into action with friendly wins over Billingham Town and Dunston, Pools took on Sunderland on Tuesday night.

They more than matched their Championship counterparts, losing to a classy last-minute free-kick.

Harrison was satisfied with the display from new-look Pools and tomorrow they go to St Johnstone, who beat the Black Cats comprehensively last weekend.

"I wanted to get 90 minutes into the lads and the majority handled it very well,’’ he reflected. "You are talking about a Championship club who are starting a day before we are, they are Championship footballers, many of them Premier League players from last season.

"Physically we matched them. We want to be challenged, we want to be stretched in those later stages.

"When the real business starts and we are away from home against a team who are pummelling us, physically and mentally, then we are going to have to stand up and be counted and see games out."

Of tomorrow’s game in Scotland, Harrison admitted: "They have been in the Europa Cup so they've been in weeks.

"I spoke to Tommy Wright a while ago, they've probably been at it six weeks plus so they will have good fitness levels.

"It will be a really good test for us but that’s what we want.

"Don't get me wrong, the matches against the Billingham Towns and Dunstons were great, it was brilliant to get everyone together.

"But games like, Sunderland, St Johnstone, Middlesbrough are great.

"The Boro Under 23 game will be great, they'll be fit, lads trying to show Garry Monk they should be in the first team, there will probably squad lads playing.

"It’s a run of three very good friendlies which will get us ready for the season."

Pools have had a few knocks to contend with. Rhys Oates (groin) will be missing tomorrow, as will Liam Donnelly (dead leg), but he should have other players returning. Nicky Feathersone sat out on Tuesday in favour of a week’s training after a hernia op.

He said: "I'd imagine Luke (George) and Jake (Cassidy) could be available, the Sunderland match came probably 24 hours too early for them.

"Devante (Rodney) is fit and training, we just have to make sure we are careful with him.

"He's missed two weeks of pre-season, it's important we treat people individually, he needs more strength work and then he can get some football in his legs.

"Nicky Deverdics took a kick on Saturday, X-rays showed there was no fracture so he'll be back in training. I'd like to think we'll get three back possibly four.’’