PIRATES chief Matt Ford believes handing Maciej Janowski the captain’s armband will bring the best out of the young Pole.

With the injured Darcy Ward out of the one-to-seven for the next month, Ford has chosen Janowski to take over as skipper on a temporary basis.

The 22-year-old will lead Pirates into battle against Coventry tomorrow (8pm) as the Wimborne Road side welcome 2012 world champion Chris Holder back into their line-up.

And while he admitted his decision might raise eyebrows, promoter Ford insisted Janowski would thrive with added responsibility.

He told the Daily Echo: “For the upcoming month I’m going to make Magic captain, which is probably a shock to most people.

“Chris has been there, done it and got the T-shirt and he will be a great help to the team, but I just want to see how Magic copes with the extra responsibility because it is a little bit more pressure on shoulders.

“It’s a natural progression for him. He is progressing brilliantly and he is such a pivotal part of the team and loved by everyone connected with the club.

“When Darcy returns he will take the mantle back, but I believe it might give us something extra from Magic.

“It’s going to take him a little bit longer to get to the very top where Chris and Darcy are now, but I have absolutely no doubt that he will and it’s lovely that he’s doing that wearing the skull and crossbones.”

After receiving clearance to replace Ward, Holder will race for Poole for the first time since suffering a broken shoulder, hip and heel in July last year, coincidentally against Coventry.

His introduction is the only change in personnel to the team that opened their Elite League season with a 52-37 win over Eastbourne four days ago.

Meanwhile, Ford admitted there was “a good chance” that Pirates’ fixture at Eastbourne on Saturday, May 10 would be moved.

Poole and Swindon are yet to receive an answer from the British Speedway Promoters’ Association as to whether their Elite League double-header on Good Friday will also count as both legs of the Elite Shield.

Pirates: (from) Holder, Pawlicki, Janowski, Grajczonek, Milik, Newman, Smart. Team manager: Neil Middleditch.

Bees: (from) Andersen, Fisher, Hansen, Howarth, Harris, Garrity, Sarjeant. Team manager: Gary Havelock.