FORD PREDICTS 'A REAL BATTLE'

Volvo Cars Poole Pirates chief Matt Ford refused to set a target for tonight’s SGB Premiership final first leg, but insisted: “It’s going to be a real battle.”

The Pirates go into the clash against King’s Lynn at Wimborne Road on the back of last week’s epic semi-final triumph over Somerset, Chris ‘Bomber’ Harris sending the hosts through with a last-gasp heat 15 pass on world champion Jason Doyle.

And with the Stars very much in form following their own semi-final success against Belle Vue, Ford admitted the showpiece was “very much open”.

Ford added: “In speedway we know that riders can raise their game in these kind of meetings and I don’t think there are any thoughts in my head about where I would like us to be when the chequered flag drops after heat 15 on Monday.

“I won’t put any figure or target on it and I hope Neil Middleditch doesn’t either. I just hope we can perform on the day and we’ll see where we are ahead of the second leg on Wednesday.

“We’ve beaten King’s Lynn convincingly at our place and they’ve beaten us convincingly at theirs so it is an open final in my opinion., but it is going to be an amazing final and we know we are going into a real battle.”

Both teams will be using guests with Swindon riders Nick Morris and Adam Ellis deputising for the injured Brady Kurtz (Poole) and Niels-Kristian Iversen (King's Lynn)

Pirates: 1 Chris Harris, 2 Josh Grajczonek, 3 Kacper Woryna, 4 Nicolai Klindt, 5 Nick Morris (G), 6 Richie Worrall, 7 Frederik Jakobsen. Team manager: Neil Middleditch.

Stars: 1 Robert Lambert, 2 Erik Riss, 3 Ty Proctor, 4 Thomas Jorgensen, 5 Adam Ellis (G), 6 Michael Palm Toft, 7 Simon Lambert. Team manager: Dale Allitt.