PREVIEW: Rival Tigers Come To Town

There is a Scottish flavour to this weeks Pirates' action, beginning with the hosting of the Glasgow Tigers in a SGB Cab Direct Championship league fixture first up on Wednesday (7.30pm) before the Pirates travel to the Scottish capital on Friday for the first leg of their BSN Series semi-final.

Looking to the immediate meeting, Poole promoter Dan Ford commented:

It is our arch-rivals Glasgow in town this week and that in itself makes for an attractive affair. The rivalry that has developed since we have been Championship opponents is like nothing else, but with this being our first clash since that unforgettable night at their place on 17th October last year, I just have that feeling there will be that little bit 'extra' in this meeting. To think, too, that the four riders who appeared in that title run-off heat will all be in action. Chris Harris and Kyle Howarth spearhead a strong Tigers side although the visitors will be without their two newcomers Kevin Juhl-Pedersen and Mario Hausl."
 

Poole are set to be without Fraser Bowes who sustained a punctured lung in his heat six crash last Wednesday, but will have Cooper Rushen back in the side at reserve. Rushen and Cairns both represented Team GB at the weekend in the SON2, where they just missed out on a bronze medal as a result of the countback rule. 

Lewi Kerr who has already climbed 24 places in the all-time Pirates scorers list is set to move into the top 90 , needing just nine points to to displace current incumbent Justin Elkins and with the form he has been showing in recent weeks he could well be pushing for a top eighty standing by the end of the season.

Glasgow currently sit fourth in the early-days league table with two wins and a defeat - last time out at Scunthorpe - to their name. Poole are setting the pace, courtesy of their double victory over Redcar from their only two league fixtures ridden so far this season.

Teams:

Poole (TM Neil Middleditch) 1 Richard Lawson 2  3 Lewi Kerr 4 Kyle Newman 5 Zach Cook (Capt) 6 William Cairns 7 Cooper Rushen
Glasgow (TM Cameron Brown) 1 Chris Harris (Capt) 2 Sam Hagon 3 Leon Flint 4 Luke Harrison (Guest)  5 Kyle Howarth 6 Jack Smith (Guest) 7 Freddy Hodder