NEIL Middleditch admits he is concerned by a lack of Wimborne Road track time for Antonio Lindback ahead of the Rio Rocket's crucial return to the skull and crossbones.

Signed by promoter Matt Ford as a replacement for injured linchpin Hans Andersen, Lindback will make his first appearance for the Elite League reigning champions in a decade when they lock horns with visitors Wolverhampton in the play-off semi-final first leg tonight (7.30pm).

Lindback has not had the chance to reacquaint himself with the Dorset track since rejoining Pirates and while the Grand Prix star has stated he is unconcerned by a lack of practice, team boss Middleditch is slightly more anxious.

He told the Daily Echo: "I spoke to Matt on Monday about a practice for Antonio but he's due to ride in Sweden on Tuesday and is getting into the UK at 2.30pm on Wednesday so he will be coming in completely cold.

"That's a bit of a concern. He's a very capable rider but it's a big meeting and we are certainly expecting a decent score.

"He has proved himself in the Grand Prix and the Speedway European Championship so we know what he is capable of. He's got two and possibly four meetings to show us what he's got.

"It's a shrewd move from Matt and Twitter went into meltdown when the signing was announced. The fact he is our asset means his heart will be in it and he has made no secret of the fact he's happy to be coming back to Poole."

Middleditch believes regular-season table-toppers Belle Vue avoided picking a semi-final with Wolves – instead selecting Lakeside – due to fear.

And the team boss is under no illusions as to the scale of the task ahead, setting his side the target of a double-figure victory on home shale.

He said: "We are all back to square one and on a level playing field. You have the four best teams in the league competing in the semi-finals and Belle Vue chose Lakeside because they fear Wolverhampton.

"We've probably got the tougher end of the draw but there's a job to be done and we are here to do that.

"Wolverhampton beat us by six at their place last time and really we need to be looking at a lead of 10 points minimum if we can.

"Lower than that is certainly attainable and I would be thinking the same if I were the Wolverhampton manager.

"They will be coming here to win but if they came away with a six to eight-point loss, I'm sure they would be happy."

Pirates: (from) Chris Holder, Krzysztof Buczkowski, Brady Kurtz, Antonio Lindback, Bjarne Pedersen, Adam Ellis, Kyle Newman. Team manager: Neil Middleditch.

Wolverhampton: (from) Peter Karlsson, Freddie Lindgren, Sam Masters, Jacob Thorssell, Tai Woffinden, Max Clegg, Kyle Howarth. Team manager: Peter Adams.