CAUTIOUS Neil Middleditch will impress upon his Pirates riders that they should not expect an easy night against Birmingham.

Poole could maintain their 100 per cent home winning record when they clash with the Elite League’s bottom side at Wimborne Road tonight (7.30pm).

The Brummies have let 189 points slip during three away defeats in 2014 and Pirates will be heavy favourites to pile more misery on the Perry Barr outfit.

However, team manager Middleditch insists that victory is far from guaranteed.

He told the Daily Echo: “I’m not taking things for granted even though Birmingham have had a torrid start to the season.

“They are a wounded animal and they can be dangerous, so I’m certainly going to tell my boys not to be complacent.

“On their day, Birmingham can be a formidable points machine and who’s to say they won’t step up a gear on Wednesday? We’ve got to be very careful.

“Ben Barker and Danny King are very capable riders and Eddie Kennett has performed well round Poole in the past.

“Their promotion has made it clear that jobs are on the line so their riders will want to show what they can do.”

Reserves Kyle Newman and Lee Smart will return to action for Pirates.

Meanwhile, skipper Darcy Ward will delay surgery on his injured left knee until the end of 2014.

The Aussie has not ridden for Poole since sustaining ligament damage in the New Zealand Grand Prix nearly four weeks ago.

Poole Pirates: 1 Chris Holder 2 Josh Grajczonek 3 Shamek Pawlicki 4 Vaclav Milik 5 Maciej Janowski 6 Kyle Newman 7 Lee Smart.

Birmingham Brummies: 1 Edward Kennett, 2 Adam Skornicki, 3 Danny King, 4 Daniel Nermark, 5 Ben Barker, 6 Simon Lambert, 7 Paul Starke.