Preview: Poole v Ipswich

Danny Ford believes the No1 Carpet Cleaning Poole Pirates’ hero of 2018 Chris ‘Bomber’ Harris will have a point to prove when he returns to Wimborne Road with Ipswich on Thursday (7.30pm).

Harris came into the Pirates one-to-seven in July last season as a replacement for Swede Linus Sundstrom and helped propel his new side to an against all odds Premiership title.

But despite Pirates promoter Matt Ford being keen to keep Harris for the club’s 2019 title defence, averages conspired against him and the Cornishman made a winter switch to Peterborough.

Harris, though, was released from the Panthers’ roster in the New Year due to ‘unforeseen circumstances’ and linked up with the Witches in January while also doubling up with Somerset in the Championship.

The 36-year-old, though, scored just paid five for the Rebels as the Pirates ran out comfortable 56-34 winners in last week’s 20th Anniversary Challenge at the Oaktree Arena.

And Ford jnr believes Harris will be gunning for a big haul when he steps on to the Wimborne Road shale for the first time since his heroics in the 2018 play-offs against Somerset and Grand Final against King’s Lynn.

Ford said: “The club has made no secret of the fact that we wanted Bomber back in Poole colours this season.

“That was the plan but as soon as the results for his first 2018 club Rye House were expunged, his average rose by more than half a point.

“That would have meant us making more than one change to accommodate him and we had already agreed terms with our number one Jack Holder.

“I know Chris was disappointed not to be coming back this season, so I’m sure he’ll be desperate to perform well on our track to show us what we’re missing.

“Our boys will need to be mindful of that as this is a Supporters’ Cup meeting we really need to win after the away draw and home defeat to Swindon.

“I’m certainly confident after the performances at Belle Vue on Monday and at home last week.”

The Witches have made a steady start to life back in the top-flight, winning four of their seven meetings across the league and cup competitions.

Pirates: 1 Jack Holder, 2 Richie Worrall, 3 Nicolai Klindt, 4 Josh Grajczonek, 5 Brady Kurtz, 6 Nico Covatti, 7 Nikolaj Busk Jakobsen.

Witches: 1 Chris Harris, 2 Richard Lawson, 3 David Bellego, 4 Krystian Pieszczek, 5 Danny King, 6 Cameron Heeps, 7 Jake Allen.