TEAM manager Neil Middleditch underlined the importance of carefully building Darcy Ward’s race fitness after confirming the Australian was set to return to action.

The Pirates star was poised to make his comeback last night but Poole’s Elite League home clash against Belle Vue fell victim of the weather.

Middleditch revealed Ward had been in line to face Aces after he recovered sufficiently from the wrist and shoulder injuries sustained in a motocross spill last month.

The reigning world under-21 champion, whose absence has been ably covered by rider replacement so far this season, is now likely to get back in the saddle in Saturday’s league meeting at Eastbourne.

Middleditch is pleased about the prospect of having Ward in his line-up but admits he will not expect too much, too soon as the highly-rated Pirates rider attempts to get up to speed.

The Poole team boss told the Echo: “He should be back, fingers crossed, for Eastbourne on Saturday.

“We have done very well and the boys have managed to cover for him, but there is nobody like Darcy and we want him back in the team.

“I am not expecting too much of him on Saturday. We are going to be a little bit depleted with Dennis Andersson away on international duty and Jason Doyle being called up by his Premier League side Rye House.

“We are going to be a little bit under-strength, but I just want Darcy to get round and get some races under his belt, which is what he needs to do.

“I am not expecting him to go crazy and would just like him to get himself race fit.

“There is a long way to go in the season and we have only had two league matches so far.We have managed without him in those two and have won, which is great.

“But I would like him fully fit and back racing at full strength, rather than at half strength and risk hurting himself again.

“He has been down the gym quite a bit trying to keep fit and doing light exercises on his arms, just to try to get himself up to speed.

“He is 18 years old and a quick healer. I’m sure he will bounce back straight away.”

With Andersson and Doyle unavailable this weekend, Pirates have called up Dakota North for the weekend trip to Eastbourne.