PIRATES chief Matt Ford says his team have “a score to settle” at Lakeside tonight – but he expects few favours from the Hammers.

Neil Vatcher’s men fought back from a 10-point deficit to complete a stunning recovery at Wimborne Road a month ago, a result which sparked their current run of five successive wins.

That sequence has put the Hammers firmly in the Elite League play-off mix in fifth position, level on points with fourth-placed Swindon.

And with just one defeat in six league meetings at the Arena Essex Raceway this season, Ford is predicting a tough test for his depleted charges tonight (8pm).

Ford said: “We do have a score to settle after they beat us in our own backyard last time, but anyone who watched the Sky coverage on Monday will know that they are a very solid unit, especially now they have brought Sebastian Ulamek into the side.

“Like ourselves, Coventry were not at full strength but Lakeside showed them no mercy. It won’t be any different for us and we are just going to have to dig in and see if we can really get our season going.”

Lakeside: (from) Bridger, Doolan, Karlsson, Lawson, Swiderski, Ulamek, Watt.

Pirates: (from) Holder, Janowski, Lanham (guest), Prz Pawlicki, Stachyra, Tungate, Rider Replacement for Miskowiak.