PIRATES star Darcy Ward will be hoping fortune favours the brave when he steps into the unknown on two fronts at the Finnish Grand Prix tomorrow night (5pm BST).

The Aussie ace - sidelined from British speedway having ruptured knee ligaments during the New Zealand Grand Prix six weeks ago - will attempt a return to the shale in Tampere.

As well as having to contend with his injury, the 22-year-old will know little about the newly-installed man-made track when speedway’s elite race in Finland for the first time.

The run-out will give Ward a better idea as to whether he will be able to return for Poole this season and he is crossing his fingers for a favourable surface on his comeback.

“It’s a big weekend for me,” said Ward.

“I’ve just got to go, see how practice goes and see where it takes me. It’s a new track so with my injury I am trying to go there with an open mind.

“I’m not nervous, I just feel a bit lost as to where I am going to be because I just know nothing until I try to ride.

"I haven’t ridden a bike for a couple of weeks because I’ve been trying to do as little as possible aside from the exercises.

“There won’t be a chance to practise for long but I am going to cherish that time on the track. It’s the first meeting on that track, sometimes they are really nice while others are bumpy so it will be tricky for everyone.

“For me it’s about survival but hopefully I’ll be alright. I would love it to be nice, smooth and slick.”