PIRATES boss Neil Middleditch argued Leicester’s lowly position and the clustered race for the play-offs made tonight a “must-win match” for his side.

Rock-bottom Lions have gradually improved during 2016 but still find themselves rooted to the foot of the Elite League, an unwanted position they have filled for the past two seasons.

Norrie Allan’s men have struggled to find a number one to replace Jason Doyle this year and have secured just one win on the road, a surprise triumph at Swindon in June.

But with Poole playing catch up with their fixtures and Wolverhampton and Lakeside enjoying a renaissance, the team manager acknowledged the pressure would be on against the whipping boys (7.30).

Middleditch told the Daily Echo: “You always get teams that regularly end up in the lower echelons but this year, we have five, possibly six teams who are very capable of making the play-offs and winning the title.

“Once you have made that top four, it all starts again and you are only able judge who are the most credible candidates once that is all sorted out.

“We slipped up at Coventry the other week and now, dare I say it, we are getting to the stage where we they become must-win matches.

“Okay, we have a few meetings in hand but others have points on the board and we need to make sure we take every opportunity to get ahead and stay ahead.

“Leicester will not be a walkover, even if the league table suggests it should be. On paper, you could see it as a gimme but I have been in this game too long to underestimate anybody and I will be telling the boys that.”

On the away side’s predicament, Middleditch added: “It is not a good place for them to be. They cannot seem to attract the riders there and the names that do go in don’t seem to be able to fulfil their promise. They keep chopping and changing.

“I think if they had an out-and-out number one then things could change quite considerably but they don’t seem able to get one.

“With Grand Prix Saturdays and Poland being on a Sunday, racing on a Saturday probably plays a large part in. The top riders don’t want to make life any more difficult than it already is.”

But despite a dearth of leading lights, Middleditch warned ex-Poole reserve and recent star guest Paul Starke would carry a threat for the visitors.

“Paul will be a trump card for them,” he said. “He had a great meeting for us at Lakeside and then again in the home fixture. He is full of confidence, loves riding here and will feel he has a point to prove. He could play a key role in how things pan out.”

Poole: (from) Hans Andersen, Krzysztof Buczkowski, Adam Ellis, Chris Holder, Brady Kurtz, Kyle Newman, Bjarne Pedersen. Team manager: Neil Middleditch.

Leicester: (from) Patrick Hougaard, Nicolai Klindt, Paul Starke, Aaron Summers, Szymon Wozniak, Josh Auty, Ludvig Lindgren. Team manager: Norrie Allan.