PIRATES will warm up for the new SGB Premiership campaign with a challenge meeting at Championship side Somerset.

The fixture on Wednesday, April 3 is being staged to celebrate the Rebels’ 20th anniversary.

Poole last season dumped Somerset out of the play-off semi-finals but the Rebels regrouped and won the Knockout Cup, before electing to drop down a division.

Chris Harris, a talisman for Pirates in 2018, will face his former club but it is yet to be confirmed which team doubling-up rider Nico Covatti will represent.

Somerset co-promoter Debbie Hancock said: “Our fixture against Poole would have been the Premiership Shield had we remained in the same division.

“Having our good friends from Dorset to help launch our 20th year seemed a natural fit, especially as we have many connections – Jack Holder, Brady Kurtz, Josh Grajczonek, Todd Kurtz, Chris Harris and Nico Covatti, to name those who will be involved in the meeting.”