Preview: Poole v Belle Vue - Updated

Danny Ford has tasked his Australian contingent with stopping national champion Max Fricke when the No1 Carpet Cleaning Pirates go head-to-head with SGB Premiership front-runners Belle Vue tomorrow.

The Aces arrive at Wimborne Road (7.30pm) on the back of a heavy 54-36 defeat at King’s Lynn on Monday.

But Fricke continued his fine form with a 12+1 return at the Adrian Flux Arena as the Manchester side hung on to top spot in the league standings.

The Australian champion has been superbly backed up by Danish veteran Kenneth Bjerre in the Aces’ imperious unbeaten home record, but due to injury the Dane will miss the Wimborne Road trip with Scott Nicholls guest in his place.

But away from the National Speedway Stadium, Mark Lemon’s side have not had things their own way, notching just a solitary league victory against struggling Wolverhampton at Monmore Green.

And Ford believes the combination of home rule and halting Fricke’s charge can see the Pirates maintain their own run of good form and close the gap at the top of the Premiership table.

Ford said: “Since winning the Australian title earlier this year, Max has been in stunning form. His confidence is so high that he looks almost unstoppable at times.

“So the task of our own Aussies Jack Holder, Brady Kurtz and Josh Grajczonek will be keeping him quiet on the night.

“If we can do that then I we’ll have a great chance of continuing the momentum we’ve built recently, which is so important to any league campaign.

“One thing I do know is having Max at Wimborne Road going up against his fellow countrymen is not to be missed!”

The Pirates go into the clash on the back of two successive league wins over the Wolves, home and away, and again will not be at full strength. For despite both Holder and Kurtz having overcome recently injury concerns, Nikolak Busk Jakobsen is ill and Paul Starke will cover for his absence tonight.

Pirates: Jack Holder, Richie Worrall, Nicolai Klindt, Josh Grajczonek, Brady Kurtz, Nico Covatti, Paul Starke (Guest for Nikolaj Busk Jakobsen).

Aces: Max Fricke, Dimitri Berge, Dan Bewley, Steve Worrall, Scott Nicholls (Guest for Kenneth Bjerre), Ricky Wells, Jaimon Lidsey.

Picture: Taylor Lanning.