Crewe will assess the fitness of Abdul Osman and Byron Moore.
Midfielder Osman missed Tuesday night's 2-0 defeat to Oldham with an ankle injury, while winger Moore is trying to shake off a similar complaint sustained against MK Dons.
Chuks Aneke is set to feature after the Railwaymen reached an agreement with Arsenal to extend the attacking midfielder's loan spell.
Veteran goalkeeper Steve Phillips has resumed light training following knee surgery but is not ready to challenge Alan Martin for a place between the posts.
Teenager Ryan Colclough remains sidelined with a fractured jaw alongside forward Michael West (Achillies).
Alex began the season with a 5-0 win over Pools at Gresty Road in August and boss Steve Davis would dearly like to see a return to that form and end a six-match winless run.
Hartlepool midfielder Simon Walton is expected to return to contention following injury.
The former Leeds, Charlton and Plymouth player has missed the last three games due to an ankle problem, but came through the full 90 minutes in a reserve-team run-out in midweek and is hoping to return to the side.
Manager Neale Cooper dropped skipper Sam Collins for the midweek home defeat to Sheffield United and must decide whether to recall him or keep him on the bench and retain teenager Jack Baldwin alongside Peter Hartley at the heart of defence.
Cooper, heartened by a much-improved display on Tuesday night, has no new injury or suspension problems after striker Steve Howard, plus midfield pair Jonathan Franks and Paul Murray reported they had shaken off knocks sustained in midweek.
Pools are chasing their first league win in seven matches having secured only two points from their previous six.
