GREAT Britain boss Alun Rossiter insists Adam Ellis has a serious chance of earning a place in his Speedway World Cup plans, admitting: "He has to be there or thereabouts."

Draft rider Ellis has been a star performer for Pirates since joining the Wimborne Road club in the winter, racking up a string of bumper hauls at reserve in March and April.

The Ringwood-based charger found life tougher in May as he rose into the top five for away meetings at Wolverhampton and Leicester. But having returned to reserve against Belle Vue, Ellis finished the month with a broken collarbone sustained in a narrow win at Rossiter's Swindon.

Despite Ellis's recent inaction, Britain's reigning world champion Tai Woffinden named the Pirates ace in his preferred side for the World Cup final, which will be held at Belle Vue's National Speedway Stadium on July 30.

Ellis's case has been strengthened by a change in format which allows each competing nation to select an under-21 rider to take their place as a reserve for the main four-man team. The under-21 could step in during the meeting if any of his four team-mates are forced out due to medical reasons.

Rossiter was an interested observer at Monday's British final at the National Speedway Stadium in which Danny King earned a surprise triumph.

And with the likes of Craig Cook, Richard Lawson, Scott Nicholls and Paul Starke all impressing, Rossiter admits his selection task has been made even harder. But the GB boss insists Ellis is among those who could be called upon.

Rossiter told the Daily Echo: "I'm not really sure which way I'm going to go at the moment as the British final threw it wide open for me.

"The way Adam started the season, he has to be there or thereabouts. He is a rider I rate anyway.

"He has a fairly standard injury and riders usually bounce back from collarbone injuries, so I'm not envisaging that changing anything.

"Probably the only nailed-on member of the team is Woffy. I am still considering other riders to fill the remaining spots.

"With the way the rules are with under-21 riders, Adam could be in contention. Him and Josh Bates are the two top lads.

"If someone gets injured and I have to throw an under-21 rider in, they could become a hero, especially on home territory.

"If Adam carries on going the way he is going, of course he could become more involved in the Great Britain senior team as the years go on."

Rossiter is set to name his initial 10-man squad soon with the line-up for the final – for which Team GB are seeded – to be determined after the race-off on July 29.

Ellis's Poole team-mate Kyle Newman will also hope to be involved having earned selection for Rossiter's long squad last summer.