Savannah Marshall backs Landon Smith to take Hartlepool United 'to the next level'

Pools, who are gearing up to play their final pre-season game against League Two Fleetwood Town on Saturday, are among the favourites to be crowned National League champions when the campaign kicks off next week.

It goes without saying that next Saturday's visit of Barrow, who were relegated from League Two last term and will doubtless be eager to bounce straight back to the Football League, will be the first true test of Lee Clark's side's promotion credentials but it's hard to remember the last time Pools fans headed into a new season with quite the same level of optimism, belief and expectation.