IT’S not often that defenders hope a 22-goal opposing striker gets fit in time to face them, but that it exactly what former Town loanee Sam Collins is doing.

The 32-year-old will line up in the centre of Hartlepool’s defence this afternoon as they take on Swindon, and in doing so he could go head-to-head with one of his oldest pals in the game.

Collins played alongside Billy Paynter at Port Vale before the duo both switched to Hull City together in January 2006. And they made it a hat-trick of clubs when Collins spent a month on loan at the County Ground in 2007.

In-form Paynter is on the road to recovery from a hamstring injury and could make the bench today, and Collins is relishing the potential battle.

“It should be good with Danny coming back,” said the Pools defender about former boss Danny Wilson returning.

“He’s done brilliant there to be fair to him.

“But one of my best mates in football is Billy Paynter and he’s been on a fantastic run.

“I was with him at Port Vale. He was a young kid when I first went there.

“I think within a couple of months he was put in the first team at 17.

“I just looked after him then and I’ve always kept in touch with him.

“He came to Hull with me at the same time as well so I’ve known him a long time now.”

Since Hartlepool shocked Town with a 2-0 win at the County Ground back in October, Paynter & Co have transformed their fortunes and currently lie fifth in the division and just four points off an automatic promotion spot.

And Collins believes their success stems from the partnership Paynter has developed with 15-goal rookie Charlie Austin.

“Austin and Paynter have done fantastic together,” he said. “It’s all about having a pair of strikers up front who can score goals.

“The good teams in our league are the ones who have been solid defensively.

“If you’ve got somebody who can bang in 20 goals as well and be organised as a team, you can get out of this league.”