HARTLEPOOL UNITED boss Mike Newell last night hailed the Third Division title-decider with Rushden & Diamonds as 'the biggest game the players will ever play in'.

Second-placed Pool, two points behind Rushden, travel to Nene Park on Saturday knowing victory will ensure they go up as champions.

Conversely, just a point for Brian Talbot's men is enough for the title to be lifted by the affluent Northamptonshire club.

Newell, himself a Premiership title winner with Blackburn, has warned his Pool players to make the most of the day.

"They are playing for the championship, it's a one-off day and it's like a cup final, only bigger," said Newell, whose side reignited the championship race by beating relegated Shrewsbury 3-0 last weekend.

"Games where you play off for the title are even bigger than a cup final. They don't get any bigger than this.

"Saturday's game will be the biggest game these lads have played in and it will probably be the biggest game they will ever play in.

"Apart from European Cup finals and things like that, this is as big as you are going to get."

The Pool squad will travel down to Leicester this morning and Newell will take his side for training at the Foxes' training base this afternoon.

And the former Leicester City striker insists that he would love to become the first Pool boss to lead the Victoria Park club to glory.

"I am looking forward to this match more than anything else in my career," said Newell, who has only been in the managerial game since November.

"I do get nervous, although I am not feeling it at the moment.

"I'm happy with how preparations are going and without sounding over-confident the players are looking forward to it."

Meanwhile, Pool are reportedly poised for a summer move for three Kidderminster stars. Top-scoring Danish striker Bo Henriksen, midfielder Danny Williams and centre-back Craig Hinton are all understood to have attracted Newell's interest.

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