PROMOTER Matt Ford has urged Pirates to take advantage of two slices of good fortune when they lock horns with play-off rivals Somerset and Swindon.

Both the Rebels and the Robins last week suffered surprise home defeats to Belle Vue, leaving Poole two points clear at the top of the SGB Premiership.

Pirates visit third-placed Somerset tomorrow before hosting second-placed Swindon on Wednesday (both 7.30pm).

Ford told the club website: “I have to be honest and say I wasn’t expecting either Somerset or Swindon to lose their home matches. It was a real surprise.

“It’s a real luxury to have a two-point lead going into this week – which is absolutely the most important week of our season so far.

“To be facing both Somerset and Swindon will be a huge test and they will clearly be looking to put their results against Belle Vue behind them with a good performance against us.

“But we’ve shown we have the spirit and guts to get stuck in so both meetings promise to be as exciting as they will be nail-biting.”

Both Pirates and the Rebels are at full strength for tomorrow’s encounter at the Oaktree Arena.

Somerset: Jason Doyle, Aaron Summers, Nico Covatti, Richard Lawson, Jack Holder, Jake Allen, Bradley Wilson-Dean.

Poole: Brady Kurtz, Josh Grajczonek, Richie Worrall, Nicolai Klindt, Chris Harris, Frederik Jakobsen, Kacper Woryna.