WIMBORNE Road chief Matt Ford has issued a defiant message to Pirates supporters by insisting: “We’re not a spent force.”

Ford is adamant Poole have enough time to recover from a troubled start to the season to mount a serious play-off charge this term.

Pirates have won just two of their six Elite League meetings in a campaign which has so far been plagued by injury problems and misfortune.

The Dorset outfit’s hopes suffered another setback when number one Darcy Ward sustained a fractured shoulder blade in Saturday’s Swedish GP.

Ward, who could be out for up to six weeks, joins team-mate Robert Miskowiak in missing a large chunk of meetings for Pirates during 2013.

However, with guest cover lined up for Ward and Miskowiak set to return from a leg injury next week, Ford insists Poole can respond strongly.

Speaking ahead of tonight’s home clash with Lakeside (7.30pm), the Pirates promoter told the Daily Echo: “We accept that we have not been as good as we could have been.

“Darcy, perhaps, did not start as well as he would have wanted. Chris (Holder) took a couple of weeks to get going but, in the past fortnight, he has really found his form.

“People have seen from Robert Miskowiak’s three meetings on his return – when he has scored 14, 14 and 11 – just how crucial he was to us.

“Dennis Andersson has come in and done his best. Not really having his own equipment and not quite being race fit has restricted his scoring.

“We all know the play-offs are what really count and the top four is what we are aiming for, and I still see no reason why we can’t make it.”

Beaten play-off finalists in 2012, Pirates have topped the Elite League table in four of the past five seasons. They currently sit five points adrift of fourth spot and Ford believes the imminent return of Miskowiak, who can replace 28-day stand-in Andersson next week, could prove crucial.

“Robert has been in fantastic form and perhaps, in hindsight, we would have been better to continue with rider replacement, but I was pleased we gave Dennis Andersson a chance,” added Ford. “I don’t think it has harmed us greatly. Maybe, we have missed out on one or two points, but there is time to put it right.

“We now need a little bit of luck. We have had more than our fair share of injuries already. We just need our seven riders on the track and I still think we will be a force to be reckoned with.”

Swindon star Hans Andersen will deputise for Ward tonight, while popular ex-Pirates captain Davey Watt will lead the Lakeside challenge.

Another former Poole hero, 1970s idol Malcolm ‘Super Simmo’ Simmons, is set to be among the spectators at Wimborne Road.

Pirates: 1 Andersen, 2 Stachyra, 3 Holder, 4 Andersson, 5 Janowski, 6 Howarth, 7 Tungate.

Hammers: (from) Bridger, Karlsson, Lawson, Mear, Nilsson, Swiderski, Watt.