COVENTRY’S Chris Harris admits carrying the fight for title rivals Poole Pirates will be a surreal experience three weeks after throwing a spanner in the works.

Grand Prix star ‘Bomber’ has been at the hub of a flying start to the campaign for the Bees and chalked up 10 paid 11 as his parent club stung Pirates 50-41 at Wimborne Road last month.

But the 32-year-old, who stands in for injured captain Maciej Janowski as Poole host surprise package Wolverhampton tonight (7.30pm), has no problem with heaping the pressure on his Brandon team-mates in an increasingly congested battle for Elite League supremacy.

Harris told the Daily Echo: “It will be strange but the guest facility has been a part of speedway for a long time.

“A lot of clubs would prefer a squad system to put a stop to it all but on a personal note, I enjoy the guest bookings.

“For me, it is an extra wage and I am one of quite a few riders who pick up bookings because of the way the averages are.

“It is a bit weird because I am trying to keep Coventry at the top while helping Poole to chase us down but that is the way the rules are.

"Once I go back to Coventry, my focus will be on maintaining our good form and all things being equal, matters will balance out over the season.”

Meanwhile, Harris is backing injury-hit Poole to emerge as serious contenders for a third straight British crown, despite being caught up in a whirlwind of unpredictable top-flight results at the start of the campaign.

Coventry have established a healthy nine-point lead at the top but the chasing pack, including Pirates, could close the gap with meetings in hand.

“Everyone is busy beating each other at the minute and I can see it being that way all season,” Harris added.

“Poole have been hit by injuries and you don’t like to see that for any team or the riders involved. They would have expected to be at the top because they have been up there for many years and because of that you should never write them off.

“They have some fantastic riders and a cracking set up with Matt (Ford, promoter) and Neil (Middleditch, team boss) so I am sure they will get it right. As a club, they always manage to get the best out of their riders and I have no doubt they will do again.

“I think it is going to be one of the closest runs for the top four for a very long time and that is good for speedway and the fans. We might have a nine-point lead now but teams can easily catch us with a few wins.

“It is great to see other clubs coming into the mix instead of the same teams at the top.”