FOR Micky Barron, two long waits are over and now he's seeking a triple success.

After sitting on the sidelines since early March, it was two months before the Hartlepool United skipper made his return to the starting line-up.

But he returned in style last Friday as Pool earned a play-off victory at the ninth time of asking.

The 2-0 advantage over Tranmere Rovers at Victoria Park sets Pool up for the biggest night in their history at Prenton Park tomorrow night.

And, if Barron becomes the first Pool skipper to lead the club into a final against either Sheffield Wednesday or Brentford, his tenth season at Victoria Park could be in the Coca-Cola Championship.

But he warned: "They are going to come at us and put us under a lot of pressure, so it's up to our lads to stand up and be counted - but we believe in ourselves.

"It will be a big night, with a big crowd and a cracking atmosphere.

"Now we have to try and go and win that game as well. We go into it at 0-0, that's how we look at it.

"Of course we have to be defensive about it, but we will be looking to win the game.

"It's important the fans think the same and go down there not thinking it's over.

"We see this as half-time. I don't think I have ever heard as much noise made at home as the other night, the fans were brilliant and we want them to be the same again on Tuesday.''

By returning to the side, Barron joined Chris Westwood in becoming the only Pool players to have appeared in each of their five play-off campaigns.

Starting with defeat to Darlington in 2000, Pool have also been beaten by Blackpool, Cheltenham and Bristol City.

Last season's defeat at Ashton Gate was an agonising one for Pool as they conceded two goals in the last three minutes.

Barron, at the time, was in the dressing room after being knocked out while blocking a second-half cross.

And the skipper admitted: "We've waited a long time to win any game in the play-offs. We've played well sometimes and got nothing, but I think Friday was the best we have played in nine games.

"We went to Bristol City last season and played very well on a big stage. They scored two in the last few minutes and we will learn from it.

"We have to concentrate for at least 90 minutes. If we work as hard as we did on Friday, hopefully we will have a good chance.

"I missed the Sheffield Wednesday game, I was at home ill, but by all accounts we started the Tranmere game in a similar manner.

"They have some experienced players who have played in big games before and it will be tough.

"We defended well against them and defended properly the other night when we had to.

"They maybe had a couple of spells when they came into the game, but we stood up to them.

"It might be a case of those ten minute spells turning into 20 or 30 minute spells of pressure and it's up to us to keep them out.''

Barron returned to the squad as a substitute at Bournemouth on the final day of the regular season nine days back.

Friday was only his 17th appearance after his campaign was first hit by injury and then fell out of favour with Neale Cooper.

He said: "I haven't played for a long time and it didn't help me when they brought Beresford on my side and he had fresh legs to run at us."

And Barron admits there was no fall out with the club's former boss.

"I can honestly say there was nothing like that,'' he said. "Neale told me he was dropping me to the bench and then I lost my place completely.

"It has been quite difficult the last couple of months, it is something I've never experienced before here.

"I was upset to be dropped and then I was more and more frustrated to see other people getting picked ahead of me.

"But I was very pleased to be back at Bournemouth. I thought we played really well.

"Everyone worked hard again on Friday and that's what the manager expected us to do. Little mistakes were covered up because everyone worked so hard.''

* The second-leg is not all-ticket. Pool have already sold 1,500 and the remaining 800 are available from the ticket office today (10-5) and tomorrow (10-12).

Any available will be sold on the turnstiles tomorrow.

Read more about Hartlepool here.