AFTER a season during which records have crashed almost as often as the riders, Pirates’ quest to defend the Elite League title could now hinge on a meeting around a table.

The magnitude of the decision facing Matt Ford over the next 48 hours should not be under-estimated.

Is he bold, or does he play it safe?

The temptation, should Birmingham make the play-offs of course, would be for Poole Coastal Aluminium to return to Perry Barr in the semi-final first leg next week before taking on the Brummies at Wimborne Road seven days later.

That should see the reigning champions safely into the final if previous meetings, including last night, between the sides are anything to go by.

But Ford could go for broke, making a statement as bold and as brave as any seen since the Elite League play-offs were introduced a decade ago.

He could opt to take on fierce rivals Swindon in the semi-finals.

Only Ford will know which direction he plans to go in and he will not be able to make a firm decision until after tomorrow’s final meetings where Lakeside, the Brummies and Peterborough are all trying to secure the final two play-off berths.

One thing Ford could have in his locker is the return of injured Pole Piotr Pawlicki.

The 17-year-old looks set to return to action in time for Monday’s first leg – and Poole will need him after last night’s rider replacement facility yielded just three points from his rides.

Indeed, had the Brummies not conceded successive 5-1s from the opening two races and number one Bjarne Pedersen not endured a wretched evening, the Dorset side could have been left sweating over their bid for top spot in the league standings.

As it was, the performances of ‘Turbo Triplets’ Chris Holder , Darcy Ward and Krzysztof Kasprzak once again led Pirates to victory.

But much should be made of Linus Eklof’s impressive paid eight at Perry Barr, as Ricky Kling and Ludvig Lindgren were found wanting in the second city.

The hosts must have feared the worst when Holder and Kling led from tapes to flag in heat one, before Lindgren and Eklof repeated the heroics in the reserve heat moments later.

But the Midlanders stayed calm and went on to reel off successive 4-2 advantages in heats four and five to close the gap.

Eklof completed a damage-limitation exercise for the visitors in the second re-run of heat eight after Kling had been excluded, but that Birmingham 4-2 was followed up with a 5-1 from Ben Barker and Danny King in the next race as Phil Morris’s side edged in front for the first time.

And although Ward was quietly going about his business by way of blitzing through the card, the home side held on to their two-point lead until heat 13.

Morris had feared it and Neil Middleditch ’s prayers were answered as Holder and Kasprzak led from the trap to put Poole two points in front with two races to go.

Kasprzak then held off the hard-charging Barker, who pushed a little too much and hit the shale, in race 14 to finally put some Pawlicki rider replacement points on the board and that 4-2 ensured Poole would not lose the meeting.

And although the impressive Barker turned in another stunning performance to keep both Holder and Ward at bay in the final nominated heat, Poole’s Aussie duo simply made sure King remained at the back as Elite League top-billing was secured.