WHILE THE pessimists look over their shoulders at the wrong end of the League Two table, Craig Hignett is targeting the upper echelons.

Hartlepool United take on Grimsby at the Northern Gas and Power Stadium this afternoon, on the back of taking a welcome four points from two games.

A win over Morecambe was followed by a draw at Accrington Stanley.

Pools are on 27 points, 11 off the top seven and six ahead of the bottom two.

Today’s opponents are only six points better off than Pools and the three following games are against Crawley, Stevenage and Newport.

A decent points return and the ability to go on a winning streak excites Hignett, who wants his side to have something positive to target as the season enters the second-half.

“Play-offs are still a possibility for us. It has to be an aim to have something to play for,’’ he reflected.

“If things go our way then why not? Teams have gone on winning runs and jumped up the table into contention – Wycombe and Colchester have both done it.

“It’s not beyond the realms of possibility but there’s other factors to take into consideration. I want us to push close and have something to play for.’’

Pools, under Hignett, successfully staved off any threat of relegation at the end of last season and the final five games all ended in defeat, culminating in an embarrassment at Plymouth on the final day of the campaign.

The Pools boss said: “There’s nothing worse than what happened at the end of last season where we had nothing to play for, we couldn’t go higher and couldn’t go lower and the season ended disappointingly.

“It was a dead end to the season, we stopped and the lads were on holiday and in holiday mode. I want to keep things going in a positive manner to the end of the season.

“Let’s keep going and see where it takes us.’’

Of recent results and performances he said: “We have steadied the ship a bit. I think the character that we showed at Accrington will stand us in good stead.

“Performances in general have improved.

“We have switched the formation and scored some goals. It works for now. We will have to wait and see if that will work long term.

“The league is that tight that a run now will get us in the mix.

“We are not giving up the season.

“We have come through a sticky patch. it feels like we are through the other side of it now. It is important that continues.’’

Hignett’s workload has increased after the departure of coach Curtis Fleming and he hopes to make an appointment.

Of the current situation he said: “It is hectic.

“I am doing more than I did. Curtis was great - he is a loss because he knows exactly what I want but we have had to crack on.

“Sam (Collins) has stepped up to help us and John Hewitson has taken the middle group of Under-21 players while Sam is with me.’’

He also had to cope without Trevor Carson for the rest of the season as he needs shoulder surgery. Nathan Thomas could be back two weeks today, with the attacker targeting the home game with Stevenage as his ideal comeback date.

Pools beat Grimsby 3-0 at Blundell Park, in what was their most complete display of the season at the start of October.

Padraig Amond netted on his return to his former club and in the past week the striker has also netted against Morecambe and Accrington – two other League Two sides he has appeared for.

Hignett said: “We played well down there. They will want revenge for that.

“The league is like that though. You can't say what you are going to get from one week to the next.

Teams at the bottom can beat teams at the top.

“It is going great for Podge. He has scored a couple lately.

“Strikers feed off goals and Podge is scoring at the minute so he is buzzing. There is no problem with his confidence.’’