TEAM boss Neil Middleditch is hoping Pirates will go under the radar as the SGB Premiership play-off race heats up.

Although second-bottom of the table, Poole are quietly building a challenge for the top four having won three of their past four league meetings.

The Wimborne Road side have taken at least a point in their past 11 Premiership fixtures and will hope to add to that total at bottom club Leicester tomorrow (7.30pm).

Pirates are just two points off the top four and only seven adrift of leaders Somerset.

Asked if his team could be seen as a dark horse in the play-offs, Middleditch told the Daily Echo: “I’m happy with that.

“If we get in the play-offs, I can’t imagine anyone is going to want to pick us. If we can keep going like we have been, we will be a very dangerous outfit.”

The likes of Brady Kurtz, Chris Harris and Nicolai Klindt have all scored heavily of late.

And captain Josh Grajczonek, who has endured a mixed season, has found more consistent form since making the switch to a second-string role at the start of this month.

Middleditch said: “It’s always difficult as a rider when you are having a bad time. People tend to get on at you a bit, which is fair enough.

“Every rider has had it in their career at some stage or another. Josh rode really well at King’s Lynn and banged in a couple of great wins.

“He got beaten up a bit in the first corner in heat one against Leicester but then bounced back.

“He is really proud of his captain’s role and really wants to do well for the Pirates and it’s good to see him banging in the points.”

Leicester: (from) Hans Andersen, Ricky Wells, Charles Wright, Josh Auty, Scott Nicholls, Stuart Robson, Connor Mountain.

Pirates: (from) Brady Kurtz, Josh Grajczonek, Richie Worrall, Kacper Woryna, Chris Harris, Nicolas Klindt, Frederik Jakobsen.