PREVIEWING: PIRATES KEEN TO CONQUER THE MONARCHS

Last time out at Wimborne Road the Poole 'Wessex Marine' Pirates secured a home and away league double over a Scottish team, and this Wednesday they have the opportunity to make it an all-Scottish double when Edinburgh Monarchs make the trip.

The Pirates were resolute against the Glasgow Tigers a fortnight ago, and after being beaten at Workington at the weekend,  will be determined to return to winning ways, and should they do so then they will earn the aggregate bonus point, having won the corresponding fixture 48-42.

Poole promoter Dan Ford acknowledges that the Pirates cannot take anything for granted but believes his Pirates have the fire power to see the job through on Wednesday. 
"We've put the Workington result behind us - it was a bad day at the office, plain and simple. Now the focus is fully on Wednesday against Edinburgh. They've made changes and have a strengthened side, and as we saw at the weekend, you cannot underestimate anyone in this league."
"We have been strong at home in recent weeks and need to keep that momentum going. If we hit our levels we will give ourselves every chance to bounce back and extend our lead at the top. The lads are determined to respond the right way."

Edinburgh field a somewhat Cosmopolitan side with two Swedes - Victor Palovaara and Jonatan Grahn, Aussies Kye Thomsen, Justin Sedgmen and Jordy Loftus, Dane Michael Palm-Toft and Italian Michele 'Paco' Castagna. Three of them, Palovaara,  Grahn and Loftus will be new to the Wimborne Road circuit and the former two are proving to be quick learners on British tracks so the Pirates will be keen not to allow them to dial in too early.

Teams 
Poole (TM Neil Middleditch) 1 Richard Lawson 2 Tobias Thomsen 3 Lewis Kerr 4 Zach Cook (Capt) 5 Anders Rowe 6 Paul Starke 7 Will Cairns
Edinburgh (TM John Campbell) 1 Victor Palovaara 2 Michele Castagna (Capt) 3 Justin Sedgmen 4 Kye Thomsen  5 Michael Palm-Toft 6 Jonatan Grahn 7 Jordy Loftus