HOMETOWN hero Kyle Newman admitted he had harboured concerns over losing his Pirates spot this season but had deliberately avoided dwelling on it.

The 24-year-old fans' favourite will tonight hope to play his part in steering the Dorset club a step closer to an unprecedented fourth straight Elite League title.

The flying reserve, who has experienced an up and down campaign, racked up a bumper 12 paid 14 haul in last week's play-off semi-final first leg victory over Wolverhampton.

And the doubling-up charger, involved in Poole's Elite League triumphs of 2011, 2014 and 2015, is hoping he has run into form at just the right time ahead of the rearranged second stanza at Monmore Green (7.30pm).

Asked if he had feared for his team place earlier in the year, Newman told the Daily Echo: "I thought about it a little bit but I didn't want to dwell on it too much because if I had done that then my form would have gone the opposite way.

"I got myself fit and got my head down and now I've proved what I can do with a run of matches and fitness. A lack of consistency in matches and fitness was the only reason I wasn't hitting my form of last year.

"From a personal point of view, if we were to beat Wolves that would be me involved in four finals and that's a personal aim as much as it is a team target.

"That would be insane to be involved in and we desperately want to do it. It would be a nice reward for the season because it just hasn't gone for me.

"I've picked up way too many injuries and haven't really got myself into any sort of rhythm.

"Luckily for me, I've finally got a consistent run of matches and because of that, I've finally got myself into the form I know I can produce."

Pirates will travel to the West Midlands with a 12-point lead over Wolves having secured a 51-39 success over Peter Adams's side at Wimborne Road.

And Newman says Poole's aim must be to win the second leg rather than merely trying to restrict their opponents.

He added: "For the neutral, 12 points is probably quite a nice figure. For us, we would have liked a bit more of a lead because we know what Wolves can do around their home track.

"They can easily do to us what we did to them at our place so we have to make sure we bring our A game.

"But we are feeling confident in ourselves and we know what we can do. We ran them pretty close last time we were there.

"We have to try and win the meeting. If you fall a little bit short in doing that then you are still going to be in the comfort zone which allows you to get through.

"If you have the mindset you are going to try and defend your lead then you leave yourself vulnerable to mistakes and them catching us up."