NATHAN THOMAS had a rough ride the last time he faced one of his former clubs, but the Hartlepool United attacker is confident of a warmer reception this time.

When Pools faced Mansfield at Victoria Park last month, he was given dog’s abuse by the travelling supporters of the club he left in January.

This afternoon he goes back to Plymouth, where he was from Decemebr 2013 to February 2015.

It was a long way from home for the Stockton-born talent and he admitted: “It’s a good way to finish, one of the best teams in the league again. We can go and have a right good go, we haven’t got anything to lose.

“I always enjoyed playing there and got on well with the crowd.’’

And Thomas will this afternoon see out the season in front of around 500 travelling supporters, clad in Stormtrooper outfits as part of their annual fancy dress pilgrimage.

“It’s always brilliant,’’ he admitted. “When I wasn’t at Pools, I played them last game of the season, and it was Thunderbirds.

“It’s absolutely brilliant. For the amount of people that do it is brilliant. How do they organise it?

“They’ll have a great weekend and hopefully we can put a performance on for them because it a long away.

“I used to travel it and it is an incredible distance.’’

And in the home camp is another plying his trade at the far end of the country.

Peter Hartley, Hartlepool born and bred, spent four years with his hometown club and he will have family travelling to the game – and dressed up as part of the Galactic Empire.

He’s been a doubt this week with a hamstring straing, but admitted: “I want to play because I have got my parents down, and the family of my missus are coming down with the away fans.

"And it's against Hartlepool. I have got a lot of friends there.

"So it's one of those where, ideally, I would like to be in the mixer but if the gaffer decides not to do it then that's his decision."

Hartley briefly worked at Pools under Craig Hignett, during his stint as assistant boss before he moved on.

"He has done a really good job there," said Hartley. "I was briefly with Higgy for about two or three months at Hartlepool before I went to Stevenage.

"At the beginning of that season he was Colin Cooper's assistant manager.

"Higgy was different class around the training ground. He was really bubbly and lively, and having banter with the lads.

"He knew whether to put his arm around someone or to give them a rocket. He put good sessions on as well.

"I always knew one day that one day Higgy would end up making that step up."