When no pole star available I use a 'star-zenith' alignment.
If you have an inclinometer, and setting circles, then it is easily done.
https://www.skysurfer.eu/eqmount.php
I use this for looking up daylight objects, but for night use it is even easier.
Years ago I was in Bali and used this approach for astrophotography as the pole star is only 8 degrees above the South. With success !