After a three-year gap, Darlington and Hartlepool United renew rivalries today with supporters keen to see their side win. But there's one man whose got a foot in both camps, Quakers' physiotherapist Paul Gough.

Born and raised in Hartlepool, Gough has been taking care of Quakers' players for over three years, and Julian Joachim's hamstring strain, in particular, has been the cause of serious earache for Gough this week.

His Pools-supporting mates hope Joachim will be sidelined, whereas Quakers want the striker ready for action, so Gough admits to being in a no-win situation.

"Everywhere I go in Hartlepool people are saying 'Keep him out, make sure he's not playing', but in Darlington, now that he's been ruled out, people are saying I did it on purpose, so I can't win!" he said.

"When he first got the injury he was saying he would love to play but I told him 'You do realise I'm a Hartlepool fan, you've got no chance!'

"I was only joking, but now it has come to fruition and everyone is saying I have done it on purpose!

"But I would never mess about, you have got to be professional about these things. The chairman spent a lot of money on him but if I was to put him back too early, he could tear his hamstring and be out for three months.

"He's desperate to play and we're desperate to get him fit but the scan at the start of this week said he should be out for a further ten days."

Although this is the first league fixture between Pools and Quakers for three years, the clubs did meet in the Carling Cup last season, an occasion Gough remembers well. The Victoria Park game was his first while on Darlington duty and, as promised by his mates, his first foray on to the pitch to treat an injured player was greeted by a banner proclaiming 'Goffy is a Poolie'.

He expects a similar greeting today from chief protagonists Andrew Thomas, Dave Carless and Michael Gough and he said: "I've been told to expect another banner. I don't know what it's going to say but I think they are going to be in the Mill House Terrace.

"My uncle Brendan has also been giving me stick. He has been sending me a text every day like a little countdown, saying things like 'I bet you're petrified, you can't back out now, we're going to get you'.

"When we were drawn together in the cup last year I put Teletext on and I was just staring in disbelief at the fact it was at Hartlepool. I couldn't get back to sleep, in fact I couldn't sleep for about two days worrying about it.

"But I can't wait for Saturday. There's only one point between the teams so I think the atmosphere will be electric.

"I can't wait to be there. Even from a football fan's point of view it is going to be amazing.

"It gets everyone out of the woodwork. Even my 12-year-old sister is going because all her mates from school are going and she's got no interest in football at all!"

Paul Gough Physio Rooms already has clinics in Durham and Hartlepool and are to open a new branch at Eastbourne Sports Complex, in Darlington, later this month. Call 07880 734284.