Despite supporters of each club revelling in the pre-derby build-up, Darlington boss Tommy Taylor has avoided all the hype surrounding today's game at Hartlepool.

Instead, he prefers to think of the match as an ordinary League game.

A derby of any sorts always stirs the passions for supporters and players alike, and today's encounter is no exception. Both camps have had one eye on the fixture since the season began, and it has become a favourite of the Football League fixtures computer in recent years for an early date.

Hartlepool captain, Micky Barron said on Tuesday he had been looking forward to the game since the fixtures were released mid-summer, while Feethams' counterpart Craig Liddle admits he had been thinking about the match even before Tuesday night's League Cup tie at Huddersfield.

But not Taylor. He's taken a back seat and, as a Londoner, he probably finds it easier than most at Feethams not to become embroiled in the hype.

He's been pragmatic in his approach, but the importance of the game to both sets of fans has not escaped Taylor who, at the start of the season, predicted Pool to do well this season.

"I know it's a derby game but for me it is simply a game against a team who are second in the League at the moment and they are second because they are a good side,'' he said.

"There's three points on the table - you don't get double points for winning a derby. The players know what it's worth and everybody in the town knows what it's worth.

"The atmosphere was brilliant in the home game last year; I remember the Hartlepool supporters made it an occasion just as much as our supporters did with their noise so I'm looking forward to it.

"At Orient we had derbies with Barnet and Southend and even Rushden as well and it was always noisy, but this derby with Hartlepool is a bit extra special because the teams are so close."

If Taylor is coyly underplaying his approach to the game, he is certainly not overstating his team's chance of victory in what will be his first match at Victoria Park as Darlington boss.

Well aware that Chris Turner has assembled a good squad over the last three years, Taylor knows Pool will be a tough nut to crack, but he has the utmost belief in his own team's ability.

He said: "If the boys play to their full potential we've got a great chance, but the same goes for Hartlepool.

"If they play to their full potential they have a chance too but I'm not worried about them, my only concern is Darlington."

The contracts of Darlington duo, Phil Hadland and Jon Cullen, expire after today's game but both are wanted for at least another month by Taylor.

The Quakers chief rates the pair highly, although Cullen is not yet match fit and has yet to complete 90 minutes in a Darlington shirt so he could be on bench duty at his former club today.

Hadland, however, has proved a useful weapon on either wing and his pace has caused problems for opposing full-backs throughout his month at Feethams