MATT Ford believes Pirates will not have home track advantage when they lock horns with Somerset in tomorrow’s SGB Premiership play-off semi-final.

Poole are 46-44 down from the first leg and will be riding at Wimborne Road for the first time in nearly a month.

And while boss Ford admits that state of affairs is a cause for concern, he insists there will be no excuses should Pirates fail to progress.

He told the Daily Echo: “There is a small fear that we haven’t ridden at home for four weeks and you do like to have home track advantage.

“I don’t consider that we have that at the moment, as it is so long since we’ve ridden there.

“But there cannot be any excuses. We know what we have to do and I just hope the lads up their game and get us into another final.

“If all seven riders are on form, we are a very tough team to beat but you only need one or two riders to be off their game and we become very ordinary.”

Ford remains wary of the threat posed by Somerset, who are spearheaded by world champion Jason Doyle.

He said: “We put in a great performance away from home and have given ourselves a good chance.

“But the truth is that Somerset have been to us three times this year and the maximum we have beaten them by is six points, and they have won at our place this year.

“Anyone who thinks we go into it as favourites is mistaken. It is open ended.

“In Jason Doyle, they have a rider who is very hard for us to beat. He is the standout rider of the two teams and is in fantastic form.

“It’s going to be hard enough to deal with him but you chuck Jack Holder and Richard Lawson in as well and it’s going to be quite a fixture.”

Meanwhile, Ford admits the result of the Somerset meeting will determine whether he decides to run a special event at Wimborne Road before the season is out.

If Pirates fail to progress, Ford says he could be tempted to put on another meeting in order to extend the campaign.

However, if Poole book their place in the final, such a route would not be taken.

Ford said: “If we are in the final, we would not look to extend our season.

“Options are still open. It could be that I put a meeting on in mid to late October.

“In the past I’ve done these events and they have not necessarily been that well supported.

“And given the rain-offs at the start of the year, the club is not in a position to take another financial loss.

“It’s not beyond means but I’m assessing the situation.”

King’s Lynn tomorrow host Belle Vue in the other semi-final. The Stars hold a 49-41 lead from the first leg.