SIMON Grayson is set to give new signing Grant Holt a debut for tomorrow's Championship clash with Stoke City.

The striker goes straight into the Pool squad for the trip to the Britannia Stadium as the Seasiders look to pick up another three points on the road.

Pool haven't faced Stoke prior to this season since January 2002 when a team containing the likes of Martin Bullock and Ritchie Wellens were beaten 2-0.

The last Pool victory at Stoke came in September 1998 with a Martin Aldridge brace and Clarke Carlisle goal giving the Seasiders a 3-1 victory at the Britannia.

Ahead of the game, the manager will be forced to give late fitness checks on Keith Southern and Paul Dickov, who both missed last Saturday's game with Preston. One player who will definately miss the game is Michael Jackson who continues his recovery from a hamstring tear.  

A major positive for Pool is that Stoke will be without arguably their best three players this season in Ryan Shawcross, Liam Lawrence and Ricardo Fuller through suspension.

Grayson that any team would be given a lift by not facing those players but feels that those who do come into the side will be more than capable of performing on the day.

He said: "I think it does give you a lift when you see players of Shawcross, Lawrence and Fuller out but on the other side of that Tony has got other good members to come into his team."

YOU CAN HEAR MORE FROM THE MANAGER AHEAD OF THE GAME ON TANGERINE WORLD.