FIRED-up reserve Paul Starke has revealed he is desperate to "put one over" Somerset – after being abruptly axed by the Rebels in May.

Starke lasted just eight SGB Premiership meetings for the Oaktree Arena side before being shown the door as part of a triple change, later replacing Kyle Newman at Poole.

And the 26-year-old is tonight due to line up against his parent club when Pirates aim to end a run of three home defeats in the SGB Premiership (7.30pm).

While admitting he understood the reasons he had been left out of a job, Starke insisted sinking the Rebels was high on his agenda.

Asked about his brief spell at Somerset, he told the Daily Echo: "It was quick but it was partly my fault. I tried things with the bikes which would have benefited me if they had worked but that wasn't the case.

"I kept breaking down because of it and you can't expect a team to stick with you if you have mechanical problems every week.

"I lost my team place but that's just speedway. You sign a rider to do a job and if he doesn't do his job, you have to make the changes you need to make.

"We all know what is involved. We all want to earn money and win races, we don't want to have breakdowns and run lasts.

"There are no hard feelings. I still get on with the promotion there but it would be nice to put one over them on Wednesday.

"I want to win and I really want to win against Somerset so I will try to win some races to help us climb the table."

Starke has been in excellent form since returning to Dorset in mid-June.

The Hereford-born charger started at number three before immediately dropping to reserve, where he has racked up a number of big hauls.

He said: "All the meetings I've done with Poole have gone pretty well, bar the Swindon one. I have gained in confidence since moving to reserve and have been able to win some races.

"It's been good for me and, hopefully, I can climb my way back into the main body of the team.

"That's where I want to be. When I did my first meeting for Poole, they put me at number three and I scored nine paid 10.

"I did all right then so it would be nice to move up into a second-string position. That's where I want to be and I think I could do a job there."

An Elite League winner with Pirates in 2015, Starke added: "Poole are always in a top four-position and are always challenging for the title.

"I won the title with Poole before and that was one of the most memorable years for me. It would be really nice to win with them again."