Dave Challinor has this message for his Hartlepool United squad ahead of crunch promotion clash at Solihull Moors

Challinor believes tonight’s game (KO 7.45pm) is a good test for Pools and will provide a barometer of where the club stands in the promotion race.

Pools remained 11th in the National League table following the point away at fourth-placed Boreham Wood on Saturday afternoon, another play-off rival.

Pools’ form in recent weeks sees them within three points of a top seven spot heading into the final 10 games of the campaign.

Challinor is fully aware of the task facing Pools with the manager setting a daunting target of seven wins from the final 10 games of the season if the club is to land a play-off spot.

Ahead of tonight’s clash between the promotion rivals, Challinor said: “The big positive is that we’re still capable of achieving what we wanted to from this run of games.

“We go into the Solihull game knowing if we beat them, we go level on points with them.

“We went into Saturday’s game knowing if we won we’d move to within two points of Boreham Wood and they’ve had a great season while we’ve been up and down.

“We could have got close to them but we haven’t and we’ve got another opportunity on Tuesday night.

“These games will be a good test to see where we’re at and a great opportunity.”

Pools head into the game on the back of the 1-1 draw at Boreham Wood, goals from Kabongo Tshimanga and Gime Toure at the start of either half saw the game finish 1-1.

Challinor, reflecting on the point, added: “We’re all the same, we want to win and play well.

“Even when we do win, we’re always thinking about ways we could play better.

“If we can play not at our best and pick up points, although I’ll be grumpy when it comes to the performance, upon reflection we look at where we are and moving forward, it’s a really good point.”