PREVIEW: GLASGOW TIGERS v POOLE PIRATES - GRAND FINAL FIRST LEG

Poole 'Wessex Marine' Pirates make their seventh trip of the season into Scotland, their third to Glasgow with the destiny of this year's league title being decided over their next two fixtures.

In what is not only a repeat of the 2021 Grand Final but also, more currently a rematch of this season's BSN Final the Glasgow Tigers stand in the way of a third straight SGB Championship title for the Pirates and whilst title-holders Poole enjoyed a comfortable 104-76 aggregate win in this season's previous encounter, they know they face no easy task with the league championship the prize on offer this time around.

Speaking ahead of Sunday's trip, promoter Dan Ford said "all the hard work invested over the season is now put to the test over the course of the next thirty races. It's another long trip to make for us, but we've all become pretty familiar with the journey this year. It is going to be important for us to go there and push them all the way. We haven't quite been able to win there this season, losing the BSN final leg by six and then suffering a two point defeat in the league and so it would be fantastic to make it third time lucky, but if that is not possible then it is critical to our chances to cling to their tails as close as we can and then finish the job on Wednesday. But we are under no illusions. All the lads are going to be on their 'A' game  as we know it is not going to be easy. At the end of the day though we have a team who have proven their mettle already this season on the big occasion and I am sure they can rise to the task once more. That third league title will mean so much to us."

Since that July final, the Tigers have brought on board Vadim Tarasenko, with the Russian having dropped just sixteen points in twenty nine rides so far for the Scottish side, having joined them just prior to the transfer deadline, on a steal of an assessed five point average.

Lining up alongside play-off regular Chris Harris, who has dropped just 97 points from a possible 435, and big-hitting Ben Basso who has dropped just 81 points from a possible 378, the Tigers have a formidable look about them. GB International Tom Brennan adds further strength as their third heat leader and, as the rider immediately above Dane Claus Vissing in the averages will be eligible, along with Tarasenko and reserves Lee Complin and Ace Pijper to take an extra ride as Vissing misses is still ruled out through injury.

With skipper Steve Worrall and Ben Cook both going for their third straight titles and Zach Cook appearing as a Pirates also for the third time - as he guested in the 2021 showdown against  Glasgow - there is plenty of big-night experience in the Poole line-up, one that welcomes back Anders Rowe after his mandatory stand-down period after sustaining concussion in heat one of the Pirates trip to Scunthorpe.

Teams 
Glasgow - 1 Chris Harris (capt); 2 Tom Brennan; 3 Benjamin Basso; 4 Rider Replacement for Claus Vissing; 5 Vadim Tarasenko; 6 Lee Complin; 7 Ace Pijper 3.25; 8 Jack Smith Team Manager Cami Brown
Poole - 1 Richard Lawson; 2 Anders Rowe; 3 Ben Cook; 4 Zach Cook; 5 Steve Worrall; 6 Kyle Newman; 7 Joe Thompson; Team Manager Gary Havelock
 

Photo Credit: Taylor Lanning