TEAM boss Neil Middleditch has pleaded with Darcy Ward to avoid a move to any of Pirates' play-off rivals – including Swindon.

Banned ace Ward, who is eligible to ride at the end of this month, appears unlikely to make an immediate return to parent club Poole but has no shortage of options in British racing.

The 23-year-old Aussie revealed on Wednesday that he had received enquiries from four Elite League clubs and Swindon boss Alun Rossiter later stated that "any manager would have to consider him".

However, Middleditch is desperate for Ward to switch to one of the top flight's lesser lights as he fears the two-time world under-21 champion could derail Pirates' hopes of a third straight league triumph.

Middleditch told the Daily Echo: "I don't want Darcy to move to a team like Swindon that is going to be in contention for the league title. It's like Chelsea lending Diego Costa to Man United for a couple of weeks!

"Swindon would have to drop two riders to fit Darcy in and I don't think someone like Nick Morris would be very happy to be dropped for his best mate, so that's a tough call for Rosco.

"I don't want to stop Darcy riding and I'm happy for him to go somewhere and help out but I don't want him to race against him with the Pirates in the play-offs and for him to come back and haunt us.

"Obviously, it's Matt (Ford, promoter) that pulls the strings in these matters."

Meanwhile, Middleditch has backed Maciej Janowski to thrive in the cauldron of the Speedway World Cup ahead of event one tonight.

Poland face Sweden, Russia and Czech Republic in Gniezno as they bid to join reigning champions Denmark in the final.

Janowski, who emerged unscathed from a high-speed crash in his homeland on Thursday, has been in scintillating form of late and Middleditch is confident the Poole skipper will continue in that vein.

Middleditch said: "Magic's on the international stage now and it hasn't affected him at all and if anything it's making him go better.

"He's on the crest of a wave and I think he will thrive on the occasion and representing his country.

"You'd have to fancy Poland to win the meeting although Sweden and Russia could be dangerous."

Great Britain launch their campaign at King's Lynn on Monday with Australia, the United States and Latvia providing the opposition.

Former national boss Middleditch added: "Riding on home ground can lift you and I think GB have got a very good chance of going straight to the final."