Preview: Poole v Ipswich

Danny Ford confirmed Ricky Wells would return for the Pirates’ home clash against Ipswich on Monday.

Ford’s side take on the Witches at Wimborne Road (7.30pm) on the back of Thursday’s brutal 58-32 demolition of King’s Lynn.

The Pirates need to win their final two meetings, against the Witches on Monday and then the rearranged clash at King’s Lynn on September 19, to give themselves the best chance of finishing top of the SGB Premiership standings – a position that will give them choice of opponents for the play-off semi-finals.

Wells missed the victory over the Stars having been given the week off from Premiership racing to nurse a long-term shoulder injury, with Wolves star Ryan Douglas stepping in as a guest.

But Ford confirmed the American would return on Monday night – having fired in a paid maximum for Edinburgh against Sheffield on Friday night.

Ford said: “Ricky has been riding with an aggravated shoulder for some time, but it looks like his week off to rest paid off judging by his performance for Edinburgh on Friday.

“Ryan Douglas performed superbly for us on Thursday, but obviously we want to have our full one-to-seven available at all times and Ricky coming back gives us that continuity going into the play-offs.

“Finishing top is still our main aim, but Ipswich are always a tough side to beat and with a GP rider like Niels-Kristian Iversen as number one, we know we’ll need to be at our best.”

The Witches are at full strength for their final regulation meeting of the campaign.

Pirates: Brady Kurtz, Nico Covatti, Nicolai Klindt, Josh Grajczonek, Jack Holder, Thomas H Jonasson, Ricky Wells.

Witches: Niels-Kristian Iversen, Cameron Heeps, Chris Harris, Richard Lawson, Danny King, James Sarjeant, Jake Allen.