PREVIEWING: POOLE v OXFORD - THE BATTLE FOR THE TOP

The only SGB Cab Direct Championship side that can still deny the Poole 'Wessex Marine' Pirates the top spot finish in the table ahead of the end of season play-offs , provide the opposition on Wednesday night when the Pirates host the visit of Oxford Cheetahs who presently occupy third place.

Looking ahead to the meeting, which he hopes will attract plenty of local interest and also some visitors who make the journey down the A34, Poole promoter Dan Ford said, "Facing Oxford, in what is for us a local derby, is always special, but this one's set to be a true battle. Oxford are one of the strongest teams in the league, and with both of us still chasing that top spot, the stakes couldn't be higher. It's one of the biggest fixtures of our season and with our unbeaten home record on the line, the atmosphere at Wimborne Road is going to be electric - especially with it being the summer holiday and kids under 11 going free!"

Not only does this meeting bring together those sides vying for the top finish in the league, it also pitches the top two riders in the August Green Sheets against each other - as early as heat one. Richard Lawson, 9.21, holds an average of jus 0.15 higher than that of Sam Masters, whilst the two riders wearing the number five race jackets - Scott Nicholls (8.53) and Tom Brennan (8.39) are also in the top ten of the August averages.

The two sides shared a draw after the regulation fifteen heats in the corresponding fixture at Cowley back in June, the Cheetahs prevailing in the Super Heat to bank the extra point. So it means that the aggregate bonus point will go the way of the meeting winner on Wednesday and should the Pirates extend their forty-three match home unbeaten sequences, stretching home wins to a straight twelve, then it would move them on to 31 league points, the absolute maximum that Oxford could achieve from what will then be their final four league matches.

Poole will once again use Jacob Hook as a guest replacement for Vinnie Foord, whilst the Cheetahs also have a 'borrowed' rider occupying their number seven berth in the guise of Paul Starke who steps in to cover for the injured Adam Roynon.

Teams:
Poole (Team manager Neil Middleditch) 1 Richard Lawson 2 Sam Hagon 3 Ben Cook (Capt) 4 Zach Cook 5 Tom Brennan 6 Tobias Thomsen 7 Jacob Hook (Guest)
Oxford (Team manager Peter Schroek) 1 Sam Masters 2 Cameron Heeps 3 Ashton Boughen 4 Jordan Jenkins 5 Scott Nicholls (Capt) 6 Luke Killeen 7 Paul Starke (Guest)