PREVIEW: PIRATES RESUME AGAINST SCUNTHORPE SCORPIONS

Poole's drive for one of the two automatic play-off semi-final places will kick back into gear on Wednesday (18th August) when they return to racing after an enforced break.

With key members of the stadium and track staff having been obliged to isolate preventing the Pirates from hosting the Redcar Bears last week, they look to welcome fellow play-off hopefuls Scunthorpe Scorpions to the Wimborne Road venue. 
 
Poole's stunning 61-29 victory at Newcastle that concluded their northern tour elevated the Pirates into second place but results since has seen them drop back to fifth. Edinburgh moved second as the two Scottish sides head the table whilst a narrow home win for the Scorpions last Friday was enough for them to edge out the Pirates by a point, and a home win for Redcar, who are Poole's next away opponents later this week, moved them too above Poole by a point. By the time Wednesday comes around the Scorpions could extend the gap further, as the Lincolnshire club are due at Plymouth just 24 hours before the Dorset drama. A four-point win a Plymouth would make Scunthorpe clear league leaders.
 
Pirate fans who can't have failed to been impressed by the heat-leader trio of Rory Schlein, Steve Worrall and Danny King will have the opportunity to see 'the-one-that-got-away' as Adam Ellis leads the Scorpions charge. Ellis initially was going to link back up with the Pirates, having ridden for the club in 2016 but his commitments in Poland subsequently made him unavailable to fulfil a role back with the Pirates and the Poole management changed directions. Subsequently the GB international signed for the Scorpions in mid-June and has become an instant hit, in-spite of the fact that the club had to release stalwart Josh Auty in favour of him. 
 
Additionally, Poole fans will also have a chance to see Josh MacDonald in action. The Aussie was another who was in the initial team plans but had to make way when the Rising Star rule was introduced. He occupies a reserve berth for the Scorpions along with one of Britain's brightest prospects Jordan Palin. With captain Simon Lambert holding down a second string berth, Scunthorpe have a cosmopolitan look about them as they are completed by Dane Thomas Jorgensen who misses Wednesday night's meeting due to Danish League commitments, Dutchman Theo Pijper and Finnish rider Tero Aarnio.
 
Prior to their visit to Devon on Tuesday, Scunthorpe have enjoyed just one successful away league trip this campaign, a convincing 51-39 triumph over Birmingham and the Pirates, who welcome back Ben Cook after his leg injury, will be hoping to protect their unbeaten home form this season. They will have to do so though whilst still awaiting latest signing Benjamin Basso's debut as, like Scorpion Jorgensen, he will be engaged in a Danish league fixture on Wednesday, but will be in the side that travels to Redcar on Friday.
 
Pirates promoter Dan Ford admits "it is frustrating that we have to wait a little longer to see Benjamin in our colours, but of course with us signing him late on he already had commitments for his club Fjelsted. Thankfully though this will be a rare clash and he will join us on Friday. But I am glad to have Ben Cook back in the fray. he is very keen to get going again after his lay-off and after the problems of last week I think we are all desperate to get going again and hopefully we will be able to attract a good summer's evening crowd to provide plenty of support to lift the Pirates as we seek to close the gap on leaders Glasgow.
 
Teams:
Poole - 1 Rory Schlein; 2 Alfie Bowtell (Guest); 3 Steve Worrall; 4 Stefan Nielsen; 5 Danny King (Capt); 6 Ben Cook; 7 Danyon Hume - Team manager Neil Middleditch
Scunthorpe - 1 Adam Ellis; 2 Simon Lambert (Capt); 3 Theo Pijper; 4 Tero Aarnio; 5 Rider Replacement for Thomas Jorgensen; 6 Jordan Palin; 7 Josh MacDonald - Team manager Dave Peet