Hartlepool boss Dave Challinor admits his side are going into the "unknown" against Notts County tomorrow after the Magpies' Christmas fixtures were hit by Covid.
Notts had been due to face King's Lynn on Boxing Day but saw the game called off after a member of their opponent's management staff contracted coronavirus.
It has also meant that Notts' game against Lynn on January 2 has been postponed and it has been the third time this season that Neal Ardley's side have seen fixtures called off because of Covid.
By contrast, Hartlepool were in action on Boxing Day as they beat Halifax to go above the Magpies in the table, but Challinor says the fact Notts haven't played means they are unsure what to expect.
“They’re still up and around it and can go above us with the games they’ve got,” Challinor told The Mail.
“It’s a tough place to go in normal times and they haven’t played since the Stockport game in the league. We go into the unknown a little bit so we’ll have to adapt based on the team they name at 2pm.
"A lot of what we’ll do in preparation will be based around video clips and a whiteboard.
"We’ve started well the last two matches and the first bit of the game will be important. We know they’ll try and split and get around the back of us and have their centre-backs step in.
"Hopefully it’ll be a good game with two teams looking to play and this storm whatever her name is isn’t still around to ruin the game with horrific winds.”
Notts should feel fresh after their last game was against Morpeth in the FA Trophy a week last Saturday, but they do have numerous injury problems to contend with.
Winger Callum Roberts is definitely absent after undergoing an operation to strengthen his stomach lining in a bid to solve a long-standing problem that has ruled him out since early November.
Irish defender Damien McCrory is another absentee after he also required surgery on his right knee which looks set to keep him sidelined until late in the season.
Wes Thomas could play some part with the striker having been ruled out of action recently due to personal issues.
For Hartlepool, left-back David Ferguson is a doubt after clattering his shin in the win over Halifax, but Luke Molyneux and Luke Williams are in contention to start.
