MATT Ford has expressed his disappointment at Volvo Cars Poole Pirates' start to the season and is hoping for better fortunes tomorrow.

Pirates visit Leicester for their delayed SGB Premiership curtain-raiser after the club's first four scheduled fixtures were washed out (7.30pm).

Ford saw last Wednesday's clash with Wolves postponed after the Good Friday Knockout Cup double-header with Somerset had also been called off due to heavy rain.

The Wimborne Road outfit was also left kicking its heels when the club's hugely-anticipated 70th anniversary meeting was cancelled in March.

Ford said: “It has been a devastating start to the season with so many postponements and the enforced lack of speedway is doing nobody any favours.

"I know our lads are as keen as mustard to get out on track and start earning and we can only hope that the weather becomes more favourable, starting with Leicester and certainly continuing to Wednesday when we hope to get our home season under way."

Lions are one of only a handful of team to have been able to stage a meeting so far, opening their campaign with a narrow victory over Somerset in a challenge meeting a fortnight ago.

The clash against the East Midlanders pitches Pirates against two of last season's starting line-up – Hans Andersen and Kyle Newman – with the hosts also boasting in their ranks GP star Martin Vaculik, former British champion Danny King, Pole Krzysztian Piesczcek and recent signing Michael Palm Toft.

Three Pirates are set to make their debuts for the club – Kacper Woryna, Linus Sundstrom and caretaker signing Peter Kildemand.

Lions: Vaculik, Palm Toft, King, Pieszczek, Andersen, Sarjeant, Newman. Team manager: Simon Stead.

Pirates: Kurtz, Woryna, Grajczonek, Sundstrom, Kildemand, Shanes, Szczepaniak. Team manager: Stewart Dickson.