POOLE Pirates kick off their Elite League title defence in customary fashion with a double header against most local rivals Swindon Robins on Good Friday. 

Swindon boss Alun Rossiter: Poole Pirates are the team to beat but I am sick of us being the nearly men

Prior to that, Poole begin with the Elite Shield against Coventry Bees, ripping through the shale for the first time on Wednesday, March 16. 

Neil Middleditch's men will journey to the new National Speedway Stadium in Manchester, home to Belle Vue, on Friday, April 15 and Bank Holiday Monday, August 29. 

MARCH Wed 16: Coventry Bees H ES Fri 18: Coventry A ES Fri 25: Swindon H (11am) Fri 25: Swindon A (7.30)

APRIL Wed 6: Lakeside H Fri 8: Lakeside A Fri 15: Belle Vue A Wed 20: Coventry H Fri 22: Coventry A

MAY Mon 2: Wolverhampton A Wed 4: Wolverhampton H Thurs 5: King's Lynn A Sat 7: Leicester A Wed 18: Leicester H Wed 25: Belle Vue H Thurs 26: Swindon A

JUNE Wed 1: Swindon H Wed 29: King's Lynn H

JULY Fri 1: Lakeside A Wed 13: Lakeside H Fri 15: Coventry A Wed 20: Coventry H

AUGUST Wed 3: Wolverhampton H Wed 10: King's Lynn H Thurs 11: King's Lynn A Wed 17: Leicester H Sat 20: Leicester A Mon 29: Belle Vue A Wed 31: Belle Vue H

SEPTEMBER Mon 5: Wolverhampton A