TEAM boss Neil Middleditch has urged his riders to avoid complacency ahead of a crucial week in Pirates' Elite League title defence.

In-form Poole travel to fourth-placed Belle Vue tonight (7.30pm) before making the trip to fellow high-fliers King's Lynn on Wednesday (7.30pm).

And while Pirates have won seven of their past eight meetings and have meetings in hand on leaders Coventry, Middleditch insists it is imperative to guard against over-confidence.

He told the Daily Echo: "In the past few weeks we've had a seven-man team and we've really shown what we're capable of.

"But we have a tough few days coming up and I don't want the boys to step off the gas and become complacent. I want to push as hard as we can and assert ourselves as much as possible.

"Injury plays a part and, hopefully, we won't have too many more of those. Of course, it's likely someone will pick one up at some stage but we just have to hope it's not serious if it happens.

"Belle Vue are a good side and in Matej Zagar, Scott Nicholls and Craig Cook they have a tremendous spearhead. I'd be happy with a point and anything more would be a bonus."

The Aces have only completed five home fixtures in the league in 2015 and drew at home to Coventry seven days ago, a side who had previously triumphed at Kirkmanshulme Lane in April.

Aces: (from) Craig Cook, Max Fricke, Josh Grajczonek, Scott Nicholls, Matej Zagar, Stefan Nielsen, Steve Worrall. Team manager: Mark Lemon.

Pirates: (from) Kacper Gomolski, Chris Holder, Maciej Janowski, Dakota North, Dave Watt, Kyle Newman, Paul Starke. Team manager: Neil Middleditch