CONFIDENT Hartlepool United chief Chris Turner last night insisted: "Promotion is within our grasp."

Pool entertain Carlisle at Victoria Park this afternoon on the back of an unbeaten run stretching back to November 25 that includes a club record-equalling seven wins on the trot.

Last Tuesday saw the winning run end, but no-one was complaining after the goalless draw at leaders Chesterfield.

And after moving into the play-off zone in midweek, Turner said: "That third spot is within our grasp.

"There will be a scramble for places up at the top, but if we can keep going - even if we lose then bounce back straight away like we did last season - then we can be right up there.

"Our first task is to stay in the top seven, but when we are in there we must push for the top three.

"We have taken four points from two tough away games in the last week when I would have been happy with two draws.

"We are conscious of our away form and know that it is those results which could have got us right up there last season.

"At the start of the season we struggled with injuries and I am sure that if we hadn't suffered like we did we could have been right up there now.''

Influential midfielder Mark Tinkler is fit after suffering a hamstring strain at Saltergate and Turner names the same team for the eighth game in succession.

"Everyone wants to play at the moment,'' said Turner. "Little injuries don't become an issue. The players are very passionate and realise that they could be on the verge of something.

"I said last week that the players are doing the job in the dressing room beforehand themselves. They are aware of what I want and what they have to do - they are the ones geeing each other up.

"I've been in our dressing room at times when we could hear a pin drop, but not now.

"Last week there was a heated discussion between two players at half-time and I had to tell them to calm down in the end - it's not a bad thing and I like it because it shows how much the players care.''

Pool entertain a Carlisle side suffering another miserable season. They are at the foot of the table but have four games in hand on Exter, who are three points in front

Despite their troubles, Turner is not expecting an easy ride.

"I don't expect them to roll over as they are playing for their careers and the future of the club - they beat us in the Auto Windscreens Shield at home last season.

"The onus is on us to break teams down who come here looking for a point. We have a good home record and teams are wary of that, Exeter put ten men behind the ball, but we have to be patient.

"Teams have gone to Chesterfield this season and been turned over by doing that, but we went to be a bit more adventurous and win the game and we did a lot better. They said we were the best team to go there this season.''

Turner and his assistant Colin West are both out of contract at the end of the season, but contract talks are planned to keep them both at Victoria Park.

Chairman Ken Hodcroft revealed to Northern Echo Sport last month that talks were a priority and Turner admitted: "Things will get sorted. I don't want to leave, I'm not looking to leave - I'm looking to stay.

"We are building up a good team here and there is a job to be done. I feel that this club - and people might laugh - is capable of holding its own in Division One. Crewe and Stockport have both done it and they are no bigger than us and have big clubs on their doorsteps.

"But even though things have improved in the last couple of years, there is still a lot of hard work to be done. We are capable of getting promotion this season, but I said at the start of the season that even if we finished tenth or 12th then this season wouldn't be a failure.

"But what this season and this run has proved to people is that last season's achievement was no one-hit wonder.''

There are no plans for a pitch inspection this morning