BREAKING NEWS: HOLDER OUT OF SECOND LEG

The Pirates have been rocked by late news from trackside ahead of tonight's Elite Shield second leg at Coventry with number one Chris Holder being forced to withdraw due to illness.

Although he made the trip to the Midlands, the former world champion was taken ill prior to the start and on medical grounds has been forced to step down, with the Dorset side forced to operate rider replacement as cover..

The Pirates' number one had warned  that after the 22 point lead established in the first leg things were likely to prove much tougher on the Bees' own patch stating "Coventry always go well at their place and they will be up for it. We built up a decent lead on Wednesday and now it's up to us to make sure we protect it but I reckon it's going to be tough. Nothing is a foregone conclusion but it would be really good to kick the season off with some early silverware".

Without his undoubted talent in the team the Pirates will certainly need their remaining six riders to be firing on all cylinders.

Coventry are set to have former Pirate Krzysztof Kasprzak back in the fold after the Pole was forced to sit out Wednesday's meeting. He has been undergoing regular lazer treatment on a shoulder injury sustained last weekend when riding in the BEN Fund Meeting. 

The early visit to the Midlands means a rapid return to the Coventry track for Hans Andersen who was hugely instrumental in the Pirates gaining that 22 point first leg lead, going through his programmed rides unbeaten before being disqualified in heat 15.

Teams from:
COVENTRY:Josh Bates, Jason Garrity, Chris Harris (capt), Krzysztof Kasprzak, Danny King, James Sarjeant, Kacper Woryna.

POOLE  Hans Andersen, Krzysztof Buczkowski, Adam Ellis, Rider Replacement for Chris Holder, Brady Kurtz, Kyle Newman, Davey Watt (capt).