Middlo confident against Bees (From Bournemouth Echo)

Middlo confident against Bees

7:00am Wednesday 16th April 2008

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PIRATES team manager Neil Middleditch believes they have a great chance of achieving Craven Shield success after being pitted against holders Coventry in the semi-final.

The Bees provide the opposition at Wimborne Road in the league tonight, and with the return at Brandon on Friday, the two clashes are a dress rehearsal for the two-legged shield tie.

Coventry, who Poole Castle Cover have yet to meet this season, booked their place in the semi-final despite losing 50-41 at Belle Vue on Monday.

Lakeside, who Pirates have already beaten twice under the old aggregate bonus point scoring system this term, will meet the winners in a two-legged final.

Middleditch, hunting a fourth shield triumph with Poole since 2001, said: "No team holds any fears for us over two legs.

"We are very good at home, and although we haven't had any away wins this season, we have had three last-heat deciders.

"Lakeside in the final is a good incentive for us and Coventry, but we have to cross one bridge at a time. We also have respect for everyone else in the same breath.

"I'm much happier to have our semi against Coventry because they have a good race track, it holds no fears for us."

Pirates are without injured Polish trio Adam Skornicki (broken wrist), Karol Zabik (swollen wrist) and Zbigniew Suchecki (shoulder muscle damage) tonight.

Coventry are without Rory Schlein who sustained severe tissue damage to his right hand and possibly two dislocated fingers following a spill in Poland on Sunday.

Poole use Swindon's Mads Korneliussen as a guest for Skornicki, and Tomas Suchanek, of Reading, as a guest for Suchecki.

They employ rider replacement for Zabik, while Coventry use the same facility to cover for Schlein.

Middleditch said: "It's a shame neither side has their usual team out, particularly us with almost half our boys on the sidelines.

"So we won't be able to gauge a true picture of the strength of both sides with the semi in mind.

"It's strange. This year there seems to be an awful lot of injuries, but danger is inherent in the sport. That's speedway for you.

"First things first though. We have to concentrate on tonight and are looking for a win, any kind of win.

"You can't say you want to take a big lead to Coventry because there is no bonus point any more.

"I'm just looking for a win. It doesn't matter whether it is by two points or 20, that's what we want."

The shield has a completion deadline for the end of May, so Pirates will probably have to amend their fixture list to fit the semi-final dates in.

Suchanek, a Pirates asset who rode for the club in 2005, is on standby to cover for Suchecki at Coventry on Friday if the Pole is still unfit.

• Matej Zagar is the wild card for the Slovenian Grand Prix at Krsko on April 26.

Poole's Bjarne Pedersen has been drawn number five and has two inside gates in the meeting.

Tonight's line ups, Pirates: 1 Bjarne Pedersen, 2 (guest) Mads Korneliussen, 3 Davey Watt, 4 Rider replacement for Karol Zabik, 5 Chris Holder, 6 (guest) Tomas Suchanek, 7 Freddie Eriksson.

Coventry: 1 Rider replacement for Rory Schlein, 2 Oliver Allen, 3 Chris Harris, 4 Billy Janniro, 5 Simon Stead, 6 Andreas Messing, 7 Stanislaw Burza.

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