NEIL Middleditch is backing Darcy Ward to continue reaping the rewards of a “more mature” approach as he prepares to boost Australia’s World Cup bid.

Ward will feature as part of a Pirates-influenced Australian quartet for Event One of the shale sport showpiece in Czestochowa, Poland, this evening.

With Poole captain Chris Holder sidelined, the spotlight will be on the 21-year-old as the men from Down Under launch their challenge for a place in the final.

Ward will line up alongside three former Pirates stars in the shape of Davey Watt, Jason Doyle and captain Troy Batchelor against Latvia, Russia and Poland.

The one automatic qualification berth to join hosts Czech Republic in the final is expected to come down to a battle between Australia and Poland, with the second and third-placed teams meeting their Event Two counterparts in a race-off next Thursday.

Poland, who have named Poole ace Maciej Janowski and Pirates asset Krzysztof Kasprzak alongside Tomasz Gollob and Jaroslaw Hampel, boast a strong team.

But Poole boss Middleditch, who will manage Team GB, believes Ward will take some stopping after racking up 39 points in his past three Pirates appearances.

Middleditch told the Daily Echo: “He has been absolutely outstanding and I think his whole mindset has changed as well.

“He has realised that he is on the world stage now and that he has to get with the programme if he wants to keep running with the big boys, which he can do, as he proved by winning the Grand Prix in Denmark.

“He has become more mature, he has been good with the media and he has come of age. He has matured tremendously and his racing speaks for itself.”