RESERVE star Kyle Newman revealed how Pirates had been "quietly confident" that they could etch the club's name in the speedway history books.

Poole will tonight aim to become the first top-flight team in 43 years to win a third straight league title, a feat unprecedented in the Elite League era.

Belle Vue, the last club to achieve three league triumphs in a row in 1972, stand between Neil Middleditch's side and title glory (7.30pm).

But Poole-born Newman admitted that belief in the Pirates septet had been high for some time and praised the management for their impact on results.

He told the Daily Echo: "Everybody at the club wants to get that third title in a row. That's our goal and we feel we're in a great position.

"We were always quietly confident. Poole's ambition is always to get to the final and then we always want to win.

"It might sound big-headed but it shows the class and determination of the management and also what a good job they have done."

Newman said he would not make any special preparations for the clash at Wimborne Road, insisting that to go about his business in a different manner would be a mistake.

He added: "I will try and treat it like another meeting although of course we all know it's an Elite League play-off final.

"But when you start worrying or changing things around then that's where things can go wrong.

"If you turn and race as you normally do then, hopefully, things should go well."