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Ward ponders starting line-up Colchester boss John Ward has plenty to ponder ahead of naming his XI for the visit of Hartlepool on Good Friday. Ward, who celebrates his 61st birthday on Saturday, made four changes for last weekend's 1-1 draw at Exeter after seeing his side's play-off hopes all but ended with a 3-1 defeat at Walsall four days earlier. Defensive duo Michael Rose and Matt Heath as well as midfielders Kem Izzet and Karl Duguid came in for Tom Eastman - who was rested from the matchday 16 altogether - John White, Gavin Massey and Steven Gillespie, each of whom started on the bench. Ward, unlikely to have any new injury or suspension problems, must now decide who to give the nod to as he looks to finish the season strongly, with the U's fresh from a three-day break from training following a gruelling March which contained nine matches. "We've come back fresh and ready to go," Ward told the club's official website. "We've got a big six games and we're aiming to finish as high as we can at the end of it all." Hartlepool will be without suspended central defender Peter Hartley. Hartley will serve a one-game ban following his dismissal for two yellow-card offences in last week's home defeat to Sheffield United and his absence could mean a rare start for Steven Haslam. Manager Neale Cooper is not expected to risk teenage striker Luke James, who returned to action last week for the first time in over a month due to a back problem and was replaced after 73 minutes. Another striker, James Poole, has been told to rest after undergoing another epidural injection in a bid to resolve a troublesome hamstring injury and while Colin Larkin is making steady progress following knee surgery, he is a week away from a return to full training. Nolberto Solano remains unavailable due to illness and forward Colin Nish (knee) is out for the rest of the season.