DARCY Ward is set to line up for Poole Pirates against Leicester this evening despite the punishment from his failed alcohol test looming large.

Promoter Matt Ford today confirmed that the Wimborne Road club had not received any notification from the Federation Internationale Motorcyclisme (FIM) stipulating that the 22-year-old Aussie could not participate.

Ward, who failed a breath test ahead of the Latvian Grand Prix on Sunday, yesterday competed in the Swedish top flight for Piraterna, scoring six points in a 48-42 victory over Indianerna.

His inclusion would mean Poole naming a full one-to-seven against a Lions side featuring no fewer than four changes.

Lakeside’s Lewis Bridger, Premier League newcomer Gino Manzares (Ipswich) and ex-Poole rider Mark Lemon (Redcar) come in for Mads Korneliussen and Nicolai Klindt, who are both riding in Denmark, and Simon Stead who is ill.

Former Poole reserve Ben Hopwood replaces the injured Josh Bates for Leicester.

Pirates: Darcy Ward, Josh Grajczonek, Shamek Pawlicki, Vaclav Milik, Maciej Janowski, Kyle Newman, Benji Compton.

Leicester: Jason Doyle, Lewis Bridger, Gino Manzares, Mark Lemon, Krzysztof Buczkowski, Ben Hopwood, Max Clegg.