MARK Lemon and Alun Rossiter insist a final date with Pirates will be the prize for the winner of the play-off tie between Belle Vue and Swindon.

Lemon's Aces hold the upper hand over Rossiter's Robins after storming to a 50-36 victory in a curtailed meeting at Kirkmanshulme Lane on Monday.

But regardless of the overall outcome when the teams renew rivalries at Blunsdon on Monday, both bosses are in agreement that Pirates will provide the next opposition.

Targeting an unprecedented third straight Elite League title, Poole are yet to turn a wheel in their last-four clash with Coventry with the first leg set to take place at Brandon tonight (8pm).

Lemon told the Daily Echo: "I feel Poole are slight favourites ahead of Coventry. Injury concerns have hit Coventry quite hard recently.

"They are two evenly-matched teams but I feel that Poole just have the edge. Maciej Janowski doesn't appear to be suffering any ill-effects from his crash in the Grand Prix and has been one of the shining lights of the Elite League this year.

"Poole have done it before, they know how to do it and they have a lot of experience to draw on, so I would lean towards them.

"With all the teams in the play-offs, I think they are quite close and it's very difficult to pick a winner.

"These things can come down to who makes the most of the luck that's available."

Rossiter backed the view of his rival boss and even stated his belief that Pirates would win both legs of the semi-final.

The Swindon team boss, a close friend of Poole counterpart Neil Middleditch, said: "I'm sure Poole will get through in the end. For me, they have got too much in the tank.

"I think in riders like Davey Watt and Dakota North they have too much strength and I think they will win both legs.

"Poole have won at Coventry twice this season so it shouldn't hold any fear for them. They will be full of confidence and I think they will go up there to win."

Rossiter, a three-time league title winner with Pirates as a rider, has far from given up on a final clash with his former employers yet.

He added: "I know people will probably laugh but I believe in our firepower around Swindon. Peter Kildemand is quick round there, Grzegorz Zengota is a different rider on his own track and Nick Morris's head is back in the game.

"I genuinely believe we can do it. Belle Vue beat us by 14 and we can beat them by 14.

"If we ride with no fear then we're in with a very good chance. If not, we deserve to lose for our silly mistakes in the first leg."

Bees: (from) Hans Andersen, Chris Harris, Kyle Howarth, Danny King, Freddie Lindgren (guest), Jason Garrity, James Sarjeant.

Pirates: (from) Kacper Gomolski, Chris Holder, Maciej Janowski, Dakota North, Davey Watt, Kyle Newman, Paul Starke.