Interesting scenario with client intelligence

I have a VIP listening for tcp traffic on port 8800 load balancing to a pool (2 servers). The client is using a polling mechanism to poll the users whenever both the servers are down.

The requirement is that when both the servers are down the polling agent whould detect this and poll the users. When both the servers are down the BIGIP is sending a RST packet after the TCP handshake. I believe the client is looking at the TCP handshake and even though sees a RST packet after that, assumes that servers are up and running and tries a TCP handshake again.

The interesting thing is that when other cleints using the same 8800 port to access HTTP traffic can sense when the servers are down. Even though the same set of packets are sent by teh BIGIP. SYN, SYN-ACK, ACK and then a RST by BIGIP.

Is there a way we can write an iRule to see if the pool is marked down and then deny a TCP ACK packet?

Not sure if iRules have the capability to check server stats.

Thanks.