PIRATES prodigy Darcy Ward insists he is keen on a Wimborne Road return but admits his punishing schedule will influence his thinking for 2013.

The Australian sensation says he does not want to quit Poole and would welcome the chance to continue his Elite League career at the Dorset club.

However, Ward confessed to having concerns over his increased commitments after being handed a wild card entry into the 2013 Grand Prix series.

A big advocate of the proposed squad system for number one riders and heat leaders, the 20-year-old has yet to make a final decision.

He is awaiting with interest the outcome of the BSPA summit next month, where the rules for next season will be rubber stamped.

Discussing the possibility of a Pirates return, Ward told the Daily Echo: “The chances are pretty high but it is a lot of meetings to do with the travelling. I am not a travelling fan.

“I didn’t do the Grand Prix this year and I was pretty sick of speedway halfway through.

“I think it is a big decision for a lot of the guys but I would love to still ride in England.

“It is a good country to ride in and it is a lot of fun, so we will just have to wait and see.”

Asked whether Poole would remain his preferred destination, he said: “Yes, definitely. Me and Chris (Holder) have got very high averages and rules are rules, so you just don’t know, but I don’t want to leave really. It is a good club to be at.”

Ward is backing calls for the introduction of a rule allowing number one riders and heat leaders to share team places.

He said: “A lot of people think it is just for Poole but if you look at it in the long run for the other clubs, there are not too many big names left in England.

“We want to try to get them back for the sport and for the spectators, who want to see some of the big boys running round Poole and the big places.

“We need to get them back and they are not going to come back if they are doing 50 meetings in England.”

Meanwhile, Ward is on the road to recovery after being left with a bleed on his brain following a fight outside a Dorset pub last month.

Ward, who was sidelined for the Elite League grand final second leg, is set to fly home to Australia next week to continue his recuperation.

He added: “I’m doing all right, much better than I was. They say it is 12 weeks before I can start riding but I am not planning to ride in Australia anyway, so it is no rush for me. I will just rest up and enjoy the sunshine.

“It is not the injury I wanted to end on but I am feeling much better and it is just a matter of time before I will be back to 100 per cent.”