MEETING PREVIEW: FORD DEMANDS PIRATES 'PILE ON THE POINTS' IN MINI FINAL

Poole promoter Dan Ford is demanding that his side 'pile on the points' from start to finish as they seek to maintain the defence of their knockout cup title.

"We are eight points down from the first leg and so we really can't afford to let Plymouth get a grip on the meeting", said Ford. "if they settle in early, we could be in trouble. We have not hit top form this season, but I've got no doubt the boys have what it takes to reach the semis. That said, we cannot be handing them any easy openings."

"In many ways, this one feels like a mini-final. We know how much of a difference the Wimborne Road crowd can make - they've lifted us before and we'll need that same energy on Wednesday night."

The 'Wessex Marine' Pirates trail 41-49 after Saturday's defeat at the Coliseum so early heat advantages will be needed to eat into the deficit. The Gladiators unexpectedly return to a full side having been without the services of both Nicolai Klindt and Joe Thompson last Saturday. Klindt had been due in Denmark for this second leg but an early cancellation of that fixture allows him to lead the side, whilst Thompson ,who missed out in a ballot at the weather-curtailed FIM World U21 championship at Glasgow on Saturday, is back in the side but moves to number four, as team manager Garry May switches him with Lasse Fredriksen, who has moved up from reserve.

The Pirates themselves have tweaked their line-up again, with Zach Cook starting at number five leaving Anders Rowe to partner Lewi Kerr for three of their four programmed rides.

Teams:
POOLE (TM Neil Middleditch) 1. Richard Lawson 2. Tobias Thomsen 3. Anders Rowe 4. Lewi Kerr 5. Zach Cook (Captain) 6. Paul Starke 7. Darrryl Ritchings
PLYMOUTH (TM Garry May) 1. Nicolai Klindt 2. Alfie Bowtell 3. Lasse Fredriksen 4. Joe Thompson 5. Ben Barker (Captain) 6. Mitchell Cluff 7. Ben Trigger