REIGNING champions Poole Pirates will face King's Lynn in the play-off semi-finals after they secured first place in the Elite League this evening.

King’s Lynn’s failure to earn at least a draw at Belle Vue meant that Pirates topped the regular-season standings.

Lynn lost 45-39 at Kirkmanshulme Lane with Pirates' spot at the summit confirmed after heat 14.

That gave Matt Ford's side the choice of semi-final opponents and they elected to face the Stars, who have led the way for most of the season.

Ford told the Pirates official website: "It was a difficult choice to make but having weighed everything up we felt that we might just have a better chance against King's Lynn than Coventry, despite us having won at Coventry last Monday.

"I felt that maybe we were a bit fortunate in that they (Coventry) lost Kyle Howarth so early in that meeting and we took advantage of that. 

"Overall, I think that our lads are marginally better suited to King's Lynn but in choosing them in no way are we saying the task is going to be easy.

"We saw tonight how hard they pushed Belle Vue and I know they will be keen to avenge the defeat we inflicted there in August."

The end-of-season showpiece meetings are due to begin a week today, with Coventry set to take on Swindon in the other semi-final.

The first leg of the Pirates-Stars clash will take place at the Norfolk Arena with the return leg at Wimborne Road on Monday, October 6.

  • For the latest from Matt Ford on Poole's injury curse, click here