PIRATES manager Neil Middleditch reckons Darcy Ward will start as hot favourite in the World Under-21 Championship Final first round – with team-mate Dennis Andersson also a lively contender on familiar territory.

Middleditch believes that home advantage could work heavily in the favour of Ward and Andersson when the opening stage of the title chase gets under way with the opening meeting at Wimborne Road on Sunday (4pm).

Australian star Ward is aiming for a hat-trick as he has claimed the crown for the past two years.

His form in the Elite League this season has made him one of the most talked-about riders in the sport.

And fresh from helping his country to a World Cup silver medal last week, Ward is being tipped by his club boss as a good bet to get his under-21 championship treble bid off to a perfect start.

Looking ahead to the weekend, Poole team manager Middleditch told the Daily Echo: “This could be a good start for Darcy. He is riding really well at Poole at the moment.

“On present form, you can’t really see anybody touching him but having said that, there are some very talented riders in the line-up.

“It is a tough meeting and it is going to be tremendous to watch.

“Favourites have a habit of stumbling but, hopefully, Darcy won’t.”

In the 16-man contest, Pirates ace Andersson will be hoping to display his credentials on the world stage. Middleditch has been impressed by the European under-19 champion this season.

He said: “Home-track knowledge is going to count for a lot and Dennis is very quick round Poole.

“You would have to say Dennis and Darcy would be the pre-meeting favourites with their knowledge of the track.

“I have got to know Dennis over the season and he is a likeable lad.

“He has a very professional approach. When he has been fully fit, he has done really well for his first season in the Elite League.”

Middleditch, who thinks the meeting will provide exciting racing for spectators, added: “Competing over four rounds is a good way of doing it and gives you a fair reading of who is actually the best rider.”

Also among the contenders are the Pawlicki brothers Przemyslaw and Piotr, last year’s runner-up Maciej Janowski, Martin Vaculik and Michael Jepsen Jensen.

The under-21 championship is being held over four rounds, with the total aggregate score deciding each rider’s final position. Round two is in Holsted (Denmark) on August 28, round three is in Pardubice (Czech Republic) on October 1, with the finale in Gniezno (Poland) on October 9.