PIRATES chief Matt Ford last night confirmed Darcy Ward’s Poole return and then revealed that Przemyslaw Pawlicki would make way in the reshuffle.

Ford outlined the proposed team changes – which will be officially submitted this week – after comeback king Ward had emphatically proved his fitness by claiming his maiden Grand Prix victory in Denmark on Saturday.

The Australian sensation was joined on the Copenhagen rostrum by third-placed Poole captain Chris Holder as the Turbo Twins delivered a timely boost for Pirates ahead of the club’s bid to push for a play-off spot.

Ward, who was replaced by impressive Polish race ace Pawlicki in May after fracturing his shoulder blade, will be named in the Pirates line-up in one of two re-declarations being planned by Ford in the coming days.

As revealed by the Daily Echo last week, Micky Dyer is set to be drafted in for Dawid Stachyra, while Robert Miskowiak will also be dropped from the one-to-seven following his decision to quit British racing.

That leaves Ford with one further berth to fill and he reported that he was likely to include a rider just for Friday’s trip to Coventry – as his preferred choice is unavailable – before tabling another revised team-sheet.

Ford said Pawlicki’s struggles with a leg injury had figured in the decision after the talented 21-year-old had become a crowd favourite by scoring 42+1 in five Elite League appearances for the Dorset club.

Ford told the Daily Echo: “Shamek Pawlicki’s leg is dreadful and he knows he needs an operation, which he is desperately trying to hold on until the end of the season to have.

“After a couple of weeks of discussion with Shamek, as he is known to all of us, it is in the interests of both him and the club that he takes a rest and doesn’t fly, which is probably the biggest problem.

“Along with Robert Miskowiak, he will come out of the team now and Darcy will come back in. What will happen is that it might be a change made over a week, rather than immediately.

“We would like to ride someone else in the team on Friday but, unfortunately, they are already riding. We are in a position where we may have to re-declare our team twice in the space of four or five days. There is nothing stopping us doing that.

"I am looking at one or two riders that can understand the situation the club is in and are happy to offer their assistance at this point in time.”

Ward, whose 9.31 average will have to be accommodated in the new-look line-up, is relishing the prospect of boosting Pirates’ play-off charge.

Following a troubled start to the season, three successive victories have put Pirates within striking distance of fourth position.

Speaking after his Danish success, Ward told speedwaygp.com: “Poole have been winning recently, but they were struggling there for a long time. We are the mighty Poole Pirates. We always pick up, push forward and do the fans proud.”