PUNDIT Scott Nicholls backed Maciej Janowski to cling on to his Grand Prix spot and insisted a top-eight finish would be a successful campaign for the Pirates skipper.

Janowski is due to return to world championship action in the Stockholm Grand Prix tomorrow (6pm BST) with the Pole bidding to increase his six-point advantage over ninth-placed Michael Jepsen Jensen.

Rounds in Torun and Melbourne will close the 2015 circuit and Nicholls, who faces off against Janowski in the Elite League play-off final next week, believes the rookie is a good bet to extend his stay into a second full year.

Nicholls told the Daily Echo: "For most people that go into the Grand Prix, the top eight is their target in their first year and that's not easy. To make the top eight in your first year is a successful season.

"Janowski is on the cusp at the moment. We know what he is capable of but he has had an up and down time. It's a massive step up from league racing and I don't know if nerves have got to him a little bit.

"He's been very impressive at some GPs and disappointing in others but you know he's got what it takes to stay in there.

"The top eight seem to have established themselves and the only person who could be a threat to that is Jepsen Jensen. He had a disappointing run last time out but we know he can turn it on.

"He's gone under the radar. He has been scoring consistent points rather than big points and has kept himself in with a shout.

"We've seen in the past that Krzysztof Kasprzak and Jaroslaw Hampel have had flurries towards the end of the season having initially been out of the mix, so there's definitely a battle on there.

"But I think that it would be quite a big surprise if the top eight changed now."

Pirates number one Chris Holder has a 12-point cushion in the top eight and is 20 points behind Nicki Pedersen in third. And Nicholls says the Sydneysider should keep battling for a rostrum spot.

Nicholls added: "Chris has been solid. He's had a couple of off-form meetings but pretty much everyone has with the exception of Tai Woffinden, so I think he's pretty safe in the top eight and could still potentially push for a rostrum place.

"There is still time for him to turn it around and get in the top three."