RESERVE Kyle Newman says Poole Pirates must maintain the pressure on King’s Lynn as the battle for the Elite League’s top spot intensifies.

Pirates were at the summit prior to Lynn’s scheduled visit to Leicester last night and the regular season seems destined for a thrilling climax.

The first-placed team get to pick their semi-final opponents but Newman believes that gaining a psychological edge is also an important factor in a play-off race he sees as wide open.

Newman told the Daily Echo: “It would be fantastic to finish top because it puts out a statement.

“Every team that ends up in the play-offs will be strong and I don’t think anyone can call it, so we will have to bring our A game and deal with whatever we come up against.

“We’ve lost Darcy Ward, King’s Lynn have lost Niels-Kristian Iversen and it’s a lottery who gets in after that. We know that both Swindon and Coventry are strong teams if they get in.

“We need to be relaxed and if we don’t put too much pressure on ourselves then we can do really well.”

Reigning champions Poole conclude their league fixtures next week with visits to Coventry and Leicester.

Neil Middleditch’s men could claim up to eight points from those trips and they will be hoping that King’s Lynn drop points in their remaining meetings.

Rob Lyon’s troops face Lakeside at home on Tuesday and travel to Belle Vue on the following Monday.

  • Poole’s Czech star Vaclav Milik escaped a broken hand in his fall against Eastbourne on Wednesday night, it emerged yesterday.

A trip to hospital in his homeland revealed that Milik had only suffered heavy bruising.