NEIL Middleditch admitted Chris Harris had been an “inspirational” figure in Pirates’ rise to the play-offs – but insisted it had been a team effort.

Mid-season signing Harris has been credited by many as the catalyst for Poole’s resurgence from the bottom of the SGB Premiership to a semi-final spot.

And while Middleditch acknowledged Bomber’s impact, he credited the whole septet for setting up a hotly-anticipated tie with Somerset.

The team boss told the Daily Echo: “Chris Harris has been a bit of a talisman. He hasn’t single-handedly turned it around but he has certainly been part of the turnaround.

“It’s not all the Bomber factor but it has certainly helped. His enthusiasm flows into the other riders and he is certainly entertaining on the track and the crowd love him.

“I worked with him when I was Team GB manager so I know exactly how he works and he is inspirational.

“But it takes seven riders to make a team and that’s what we need in the play-offs. We’ve gone from bottom to the play-offs and that is where we want to be.”