DEFIANT Hans Andersen refused to rule out a comeback for Pirates amid fears he could be ruled out for the rest of the Elite League campaign.

The former Grand Prix star broke the ring finger on his left hand and sustained a head injury during Poole's 52-38 defeat at Leicester on Bank Holiday Monday.

Forced to withdraw from the meeting having been inadvertently wiped out by Poole guest Max Fricke in heat six, Andersen spent the night in hospital in Leicester before returning home to Denmark.

The 35-year-old plans to seek further advice from medics and has not ruled out competing in Saturday's Grand Prix Challenge in Vetlanda, Sweden, although he insists it is too early for him to decide what approach to take with the rest of his league fixtures this year.

Pirates promoter Matt Ford said he expected Andersen's season to be ended by the spill and that the experienced ace would be "a major loss".

However, Andersen was yesterday in upbeat spirits over the injury to his clutch-operating hand, although he admitted to feeling extremely sore.

He told the Daily Echo: "I'm going to see a specialist and we will see what they can do. It doesn't look like it needs surgery, it's just a question of putting it back in place.

"My body has taken a big impact – I feel like I've been run over by a truck. It was a pretty big knock to the head but that's okay, it was never right in the first place!

"My first priority is to get ready and see if I can do the GP Challenge and then I'll consider what to do with my remaining league racing after that. It's not just Poole, it's other clubs as well.

"It's too early to make any decisions yet. I have to look at every positive I can because it isn't a great situation and if I look at the negatives, I will get myself down."

Andersen also broke a finger last season while racing for Coventry at Swindon, the former Peterborough man tangling with the Robins' Nick Morris. However, he continued to ride through the pain barrier.

"I raced pretty well with a broken finger last year," added Andersen. "I actually remember thinking I was riding better with a finger stuck up in the air!

"This latest injury could have been much worse. The ring finger is not the strongest finger in the hand so that's a good sign."

Pirates have drafted in Krzysztof Kasprzak as a guest for tomorrow's home clash with table-toppers Belle Vue.

Ford, who confirmed it was too late for Pirates to make permanent team changes, said: "The loss of Hans, which we believe will probably be his season end, is a major loss.

"There's never a good time for these things but of course when we can't bring anyone else in, it does make life very difficult."