MATT Ford believes it will be Championship against Premier League when Pirates take on much-fancied Swindon in the play-off semi-final.

The Poole promoter feels his team are underdogs for the hotly-anticipated clash – the first leg of which is at Wimborne Road on Monday – but says his septet is capable of springing a surprise against the SGB Premiership table-toppers.

Pirates have failed to get the better of Swindon in four fixtures this season and Ford told the Daily Echo: "It's going to be tough to beat them over two legs, we are fully aware of that.

"That said, you hope to go into any professional sporting event with confidence high and ours is at this point in time. The team morale is certainly the best it has been all season.

"I don't want to overplay our chances because the league table clearly shows Swindon have been the best team. But it's not David versus Goliath, it's a far more level playing field than that.

"The easiest way to describe it is in football terms, a Premier League club facing a Championship club. They have had the edge on us but everyone knows the Championship club can win."

Robins team boss Alun Rossiter has already lit the blue touch paper by accusing Ford of "mind games" and revealing his aim to "inflict a bit of pain" on the Wimborne Road chief.

Rossiter's comments came after Ford said "nobody will give us a chance" in the play-offs.

Reflecting on the Wiltshire club's decision to pick Poole as their opponents, Ford said: "Of course we expected Swindon to choose us and if the boot had been on the foot, we would have chosen them.

"Is it the right decision? No one knows at this point in time. We will be doing what we can to upset the apple cart.

"I appreciate Rosco said I was playing mind games but the fact is the league table doesn't lie. Seventeen victories in a row is an outstanding achievement in any form of sport.

"Given the fact they have won twice at Poole this year, the last time convincingly, of course they are going to be favourites. You would be a fool to think any different.

"But forget the 17-match unbeaten run, it is now a shootout. It's another day and could it be that we are finding form and that Swindon have lost a tiny bit. Who knows?

"I feel they were unlucky in their past two defeats, they lost their reserves but they will have Bradley Wilson-Dean back and in Mitch Davey they have someone who is capable at reserve.

"Let's hope our boys can up their game and that perhaps Swindon perform slightly below par."

After Monday's fixture, there is due to be a two-week break before the teams lock horns in the decisive second leg at the Abbey Stadium.

The other semi-final will be contested by Wolverhampton and Belle Vue.