BATES STEPS INTO THE BREACH AS PIRATES FACE LEAGUE LEADERS

JOSH BATES steps into the breach for the VOLVO CARS POOLE PIRATES as they host Wolverhampton (Wednesday) and travel to Belle Vue (Friday) to cover for reserve Nicolai Klindt.

Klindt was involved in a crash in Poland on Sunday sustaining  back pain, concussion and knee damage and his influence in the Poole side will be sorely missed as the Pirates plan to take on two of the top sides in this year's SGB Premiership.

Poole boss Matt Ford admits "Losing Nicolai ahead of two really tough fixtures this week is a terrible blow. As we knew he would be, Nicolai has proved to be a totally reliable reserve and provided excellent back up to the main body of the team so to have to face the might of Wolverhampton and then travel to Belle Vue without him is far from being ideal. However, we can only hope that Josh (Bates) will be able to do a reasonable job for us but I do feel that it will be time for our top five to click as a unit."

Wednesday will signify the home debut for Gregorz Zengota, who has been signed as an injury replacement for his fellow countryman, Krzysztof Kasprzak and the Pole is keen to follow up his seven points in Saturday night's draw at Leicester on Saturday with an increased return in front of the Poole fans.

The Pirates will come face-to-face with their guest from Saturday, Rory Schlein, who claimed the Leicester track record in his single race victory for Poole. Schlein has very much been instrumental in strengthening the defending league champions having been called in to the Wolves side post their last visit to Wimborne Road when the Pirates turned the Black Country side over to claim the Elite Shield. Since replacing Adam Skornicki, as part of a dual change that saw Mark Riss drafted in at the expense of Max Clegg, Schlein has consistently hit double figures.

Former Pirate Josh Grajczonek will again confront Poole, for having guested for Leicester in Saturday, he will  oppose the Pirates again as he stands in for the injured Freddie Lindgren, who has been in excellent form this season. Lindgren's absence sees Jacob Thorssell take on the captain's role.

Poole welcome back both Jack Holder and Brady Kurtz after they both missed Saturday's action at Leicester as they were steering the Australian U21 team into the final (to be held in Rybnik on September 2nd), Kurtz unbeaten in Pocking and Holder scoring 10, whilst captain Hans Andersen successfully progressed to the semi-final stages of the GP qualification route, courtesy of an eleven point haul in Abensberg on Monday, winning a run-off over Daniel Gappmaier for ultimate 3rd place.

Nine league points separate the Pirates from table-topping Wolverhampton although the leaders have ridden two more meetings than Poole. The visitors have already collected 7 points (from a possible 16) on the road which makes them the league's best travellers to-date.

Heightened security measures will be in operation at the Wimborne Road stadium on Wednesday evening with the stadium owners requesting that patrons present all rucksacks, bags, handbags and jackets to their Customer Safety Staff for checking on arrival.  To assist with the new procedures patrons are requested to keep bags to a minimum.

Teams (from)

Poole: Hans Andersen (Capt), Jack Holder, Brady Kurtz, Kyle Newman, Grzegorz Zengota, Josh Bates (Guest), James Shanes Team manager Neil Middleditch

Wolverhampton: Josh Grajczonek (Guest), Kyle Howarth, Sam Masters, Rory Schlein Jacob Thorssell (Capt), Mark Riss, Nathan Greaves Team manager Peter Adams