NEIL Middleditch warned Pirates to beware of “wounded” Belle Vue when the two sides clash in Manchester tomorrow (noon).

Team manager Middleditch watched his septet open their home account against the Aces on Thursday, running out comfortable 55-35 winners to atone for earlier Wimborne Road defeats against King’s Lynn and Swindon.

With the manner of the Pirates’ 20-point victory having clearly hurt the men from Manchester, Middleditch fears they will have a point to prove at National Speedway Stadium.

He said: “There’s nothing worse in this sport than a wounded animal and I’m absolutely certain the Belle Vue riders will be desperate to turn us over at their place.

“But if we can perform as we did at home on Thursday, and against Somerset on Wednesday, then there’s no reason why we can’t bring home full points.

“The track at the NSS looks to be in good shape, so there should be some really good racing and it’s all set up for an exciting meeting.”

Dimitri Berge returns for the Aces having missed Thursday’s clash.

Aces: 1 Max Fricke, 2 Steve Worrall, 3 Dan Bewley, 4 Ricky Wells, 5 Kenneth Bjerre, 6 Dimitri Bergé, 7 Jaimon Lidsey.

Pirates: 1 Jack Holder, 2 Richie Worrall, 3 Nicolai Klindt, 4 Josh Grajczonek, 5 Brady Kurtz, 6 Nico Covatti, 7 Nikolaj Busk Jacobsen.