CRAIG Harrison is still hoping to add two players to his squad this week.

The Hartlepool United boss has already signed eight new players this summer since his appointment, but wants more.

After leading his players through a different sort of training session yesterday when they were put through a number of challenges to test their mental strength and help team spirit, Harrison admitted adding to his options is in his thoughts.

He has cast an eye over a number of trialists in pre-season and two of them – former Pools winger Jonathan Franks and Lewis Maloney were part of yesterday’s exercises.

"I'd like to bring two more in and think I will do before the season starts - that's an on-going project,’’ he said.

"I'm always looking to strengthen, whenever we can, whether that's midway through the season, at Christmas, whenever.

"I'll always be looking to strengthen, to make our team better or give our team something we haven't got, a different dimension.

"I'm very big on competition for places.

"Hopefully, everyone will be fit, it's looking that way, then it will be a big dilemma for me and the coaching staff on Friday when we chew the fat, see who's going to start the game and who'll be on the bench because we'll only have five subs in the National League.

"There are going to be three or four senior players who are going to be disappointed.

"That's football, but we are going to need them to be positive and top be ready for when their opportunity comes.

"I don't want sulkers, that's the last thing I want here.’’

Franks was freed by Ross County at the end of last season, two years after leaving Pools for Scotland.

He also has options to move abroad, but a return to Pools looks likely.

Harrison added: "We could play up to 55 games this season and there is no way in modern-day that any player can play all 55 games.

"It's impossible physically and you have suspensions and the like coming into it.

"Everyone is going to be needed at some point.

"When the games are tough and tight, it is the subs who can make an impact, that's what I'm going to need."

Pools take on Dover at Victoria Park in their National League opener on Saturday. Harrison has been satisfied with how pre-season has gone, with players who have had injury niggles coming through their problems.

"I think, touch wood, we've got everything right, timing,’’ he said.

"Everyone's had minutes, look at Saturday, Jake (Cassidy) got his first 90, Luke (George) 45, Nicky Featherstone 70, Devante (Rodney) 15.

"A couple of lads are a little bit behind but all the lads will be ready to play their part when they are needed.

"That's the important thing for me.

"It's a fact that most injuries happen in pre-season but if we start the season with everyone fit and available then they have done a fantastic job.

"Then it's passed over to me to take the hard decisions."

Yesterday’s team building day at the Racecourse in Durham was part of Harrison’s plan to develop and engineer a positive spirit around the camp.

He said: "I like to get to know people, not just the lads on the pitch.

"If you want to get the most out of people you need to know the character off the pitch.

"It makes people communicate with each other, makes people step up to take leadership roles.

"The players might have me, Jenks, Batesy, the coaching staff on the side helping them, but sometimes in the thick of battle you need to be intelligent enough to sort out a problem yourself.’’