The Gaffer
Danny Wilson. Pools are the fifth club that the 48-year-old has managed, with his most high-profile appointments being in the Broad Acres with Barnsley and Sheffield Wednesday.

His managerial star first shone at Oakwell, where he famously took them to the top flight for the first time in 110 years in 1996-97.

The former Northern Ireland midfield general headed to Hillsborough in the summer of 1998 but he was promptly sacked the following spring, with Wednesday hovering near the Premiership drop zone.

Spells with Bristol City and MK Dons followed before he took the Pools reins in June 2006, with a victorious first season culminating in promotion back to League One – as runners-up at the first time of asking.

The Danger
The main man for irrepressible Sky Sports Soccer Saturday presenter Jeff Stelling – namely highly-rated frontman James Brown – is also United's greatest threat.

The Northumbrian has certainly been feeling good for Pools this term, by virtue of eight goals already, forming a very tidy striking combo with Aussie hitman Joel Porter, with the pair having plundered a superb 18 goals between them so far this season.

The Form
The operative word is patchy when decribing Hartlepool's form.

They enjoyed a four-match winning sequence from mid-October to the start of November to suggest they could throw themselves into play-off contention.

But they have subsequently lost back-to-back games to Leyton Orient and MK Dons, although they have been bolstered by their midweek FA Cup win over League One rivals Brighton.

They have looked the part at home, with their goals total the best in the division, but they have largely struggled on their travels, especially in front of goal, with only Yeovil and Hereford having notched fewer away goals.

The Odds
William Hill rate Leeds as strong odds-on 8-13 favourites to topple Pools tomorrow.

Hartlepool are rated as 7-2 underdogs, with the draw priced at 5-2.

The Whistler
Graham Salisbury. The Lancastrian, who made his bow in the 2001-02 campaign, has officiated in 13 league and cup games so far this term – producing just 31 cautions and three red cards.

He took charge of United's 5-2 Carling Cup cruise at Chester City in August and his last visit to Elland Road was on January 5 when he was the man in the middle in Leeds' similarly comfortable 3-0 success over Northampton.