TASKMASTER Matt Ford revealed the future of his Poole Pirates side remains in the balance – despite posting two emphatic victories.

The Wimborne Road chief confirmed the colossal return against Wolverhampton and Wednesday’s thrill-a-minute derby thumping of Swindon had encouraged him to play the waiting game but stopped short of ruling out a late team switch.

With Coventry still in the Elite League’s box seat, Ford admitted form was not the only factor to consider at the business end of the season and that he would continue to monitor his options right up to the deadline for team declarations on August 28.

Ford has remained tight-lipped on who may come in or go out but appeared to show support for Poole’s top two Chris Holder and Maciej Janowski in his programme notes last week.

They read: “Chris has been in exceptional form in Poland, Sweden and the Grand Prix, so he is looking in good shape for the run-in.

“Maciej is just so supremely confident at the moment. I would back him to beat any rider on the planet round Wimborne Road.”

Quizzed on his latest thoughts, Ford told the Daily Echo: “At the moment, nothing is set to move and we are just going to see how it goes.

“It doesn’t have to be done until August 28. We have a bit of time should we choose to take that route so I’m going to hold fire. If I think it needs doing, I will do it but at the moment I can’t imagine anything happening too quickly.

“All in all, the team has performed. There have been one or two mishaps but other than Coventry, every other team in the league would love to be in our position.

“It is still possible for us to finish top and we will try to keep up the pressure but we have to address the possibility we may be second or third.

“In periods like this, it is not necessarily that riders have not done their job. They may have come in and actually increased their average but you have to look at what you will be coming up against. If you feel there is any way of making the team that much better, then you have to.

“I’m now assessing which riders will be better at which tracks and trying to predict which teams will be in the semi-final because, bar a catastrophe, I think we have pretty much secured our place.

“It’s a case of trying to work your way round the permutations but if you take one injury, everything changes in a heartbeat.”

Full-strength Pirates continue their push for top spot with a trip to Belle Vue Aces tonight (7.30pm).

Davey Watt moves up to a heat leader’s berth in place of Dakota North after August’s averages kicked in on Saturday.

Aces: Matej Zagar, Max Fricke, Craig Cook, Josh Grajczonek, Scott Nicholls, Steve Worrall, Stefan Nielsen. Team manager: Mark Lemon.

Pirates: Chris Holder, Dakota North, Davey Watt, Kacper Gomolski, Maciej Janowski, Paul Starke, Kyle Newman. Team manager: Neil Middleditch.