BULLISH skipper Davey Watt insists Elite League clubs are fearful of locking horns with Poole Pirates following the their formidable start to the season.

Poole crushed Coventry – one of the leading title contenders according to the bookmakers – in the Elite Shield last week as they strongly stated their credentials for the 2016 campaign.

And veteran Watt feels their rivals are running scared ahead of the club’s league opener at home to Swindon on Good Friday (noon), with the return clash due to take place at Blunsdon on Easter Sunday (5pm).

Watt told the Daily Echo: “Everybody would be afraid to come to Poole, especially at the moment. If they aren’t worried then they should be.

“Who would want to take on our team? We have an absolutely solid line-up and I think confidence is going to grow. We have had two meetings and won both in style.

“I was really surprised by the way the team gelled against Coventry and the way everyone rode over the course of the two meetings.

“To miss Chris (Holder) for the second meeting was a huge body blow for us but the quality of the team pulled us through. Had Chris been there and scored 10 points, that would have looked pretty embarrassing for them.

“I’m really looking forward to the season because I think this team is pretty special and I’m really glad to be a part of it.

“We can’t win the league this week but we can definitely start working towards something. If we build confidence and faith in each other, hopefully we can carry that through to the play-offs and be holding the trophy at the end of the season.”

Watt has a sensational CV as a Pirates rider having won five league titles in six separate seasons and also played a key role in the charge to the grand final in 2010.

And the 38-year-old Queenslander says his desire to secure silverware remains as strong as ever, his hope being that his team-mates will match his passion for success.

“I’ve won a fair few trophies with Poole and there’s no reason why that should be any different this year,” he said.

“I intend to do the best I can, work with the team the best I can and, hopefully, everyone will be as motivated as I am to win. The signs are good as everybody I’ve spoken to is extremely motivated for the season ahead.”

Watt added: “I don’t feel there is any point in racing speedway if you don’t want to win. I don’t get that you would want to ride a speedway bike but not beat everyone you come up against.

“That’s quite a confusing thing for me and I guess as I’ve seen guys retire, I’ve always questioned how hard it is to get that out of your system.

“As it stands at the moment, I’m more and more excited to ride a speedway bike every time I think about it. I’m not at all thinking about taking it easy.”