KYLE Newman argued Poole promoter Matt Ford had put together a title-challenging team and admitted: "We always expect to be winning."

Hometown hero Newman is due to take his place in an eclectic septet which includes experienced duo Krzysztof Kasprzak and Hans Andersen, Aussie youngsters Jack Holder and Brady Kurtz, potential trump card Nicolai Klindt and top-flight rookie James Shanes.

Pirates are due to begin their SGB Premiership campaign at home to Somerset on Good Friday, April 14 and vice-captain Newman expects a strong season from the Wimborne Road club.

He told the Daily Echo: "Putting my cocky hat on, it's the usual Poole team. Matt will turn those sort of teams out year in, year out and he's done it again.

"We're only looking at one end of the table and that's the top and that's where we want to be come the end of the season.

"What Matt has brought to Poole Speedway is that we always expect to be winning. As bolshy and cocky as that sounds, I think any club in the country would be jealous of that kind of ethos – that you expect and demand to win.

"You would be hard pushed to find anyone who would say they wouldn't want that at their club."