"Let's not presume anything," Poole said this week, hinting there might be gentle pressure on McLeod to reconsider.
"Should Shane reaffirm his decision to stand down we will run a very well-planned succession next year with the aim of having a good overlap period.
"And this would not only be in terms of Shane but the players as well."
A number of senior players have strongly indicated the Olympics will more than likely signal the end of what have been long and successful careers.
"We're aware of that but until they actually confirm their decision to call an end to their international careers, we'll continue with the planning we already have in place," said Poole.
"We're investing much time and resources in our under-18 and under-21 programmes for this very reason.
"You can see the depth Australia have and that is simply because of their long-term investment in their younger players - men and women.
"The next Junior World Cups are in 2013 with the Oceania qualifiers late next year. We are already working towards those."
McLeod, obviously buoyed by his team's efforts this week, is adamant he won't leave anyone in the lurch.
"I'll do whatever is best for the team," he said. "We will reassess the situation and if they wanted me to stay on I would certainly look at it.
"The best opportunity to bring in a new coach with new ideas is after a major tournament, so if Hockey NZ felt it was in the best interests for a new coach to come in before the Champions Trophy, I could work in with that."
Asked whether it would be a simple case of promoting a current member of the coaching staff, McLeod said: "That's certainly a way of doing things but sometimes it's better to make a clean cut and start afresh.
"For me and the senior players it'll be a time [after the Olympics] to consider our futures on and off the field. I think New Zealand hockey is in a luxury position with the groups of young men and women coming through being potentially stronger than the current crop."
And, closer to home, McLeod is certain this week's success, shown live on television, is a bonus. "I'm sure a few kids will start playing hockey because of what they've seen on television."
Asked how the draw with the Dutch, and with it the chance to achieve New Zealand's best ever result at a men's Champions Trophy, rated, McLeod said: "It's close to being number one. That and beating Australia had been on my bucket list. We did that at the Oceania Championships, which filled another gap as I hadn't managed that as a player."
McLeod is obviously encouraged by the progress this team has made. Now, he wants the icing on the cake.
"If the players can get a medal on Sunday it would be fantastic and nothing they don't deserve. I couldn't ask for any more. It would be a fitting reward for the time and effort they've put in," said McLeod.
"Edging Germany out of medal contention was another step. Beating them has been elusive but in holding them to 2-1, it showed we're getting closer.
"Australia still remain the greatest challenge but now we have a team who have all experienced that once."
To add a second win over the world's highest-ranked team would, surely, be the ultimate and a huge fillip heading towards London.
