PIRATES chief Matt Ford admits guest Ellis Perks faces an uphill battle to adequately cover for Kyle Newman tonight.

Perks steps up in the absence of his injured Plymouth team-mate for Poole’s trip to Coventry in the Elite League.

And promoter Ford confessed the 19-year-old would be up against it.

Ford told the club website: “It will be a big ask for Ellis to make the sort of impact a fully-fit Kyle would have been capable of.

“It means that we will need the rest of the team to be on the task from the very outset.”

Ford added: “I think Coventry have shown on more than one occasion this season that they will always be a threat.

“I know the lads are keen to keep the push for the play-offs going and there is no reason why we can’t give them a serious run for their money.”

Newman is due to sit out his second Poole meeting this week as he recovers from a broken collarbone.