PIRATES co-promoter Danny Ford insists there will be no rush in confirming their septet for the 2020 season, adding: "we pretty much have the pick of whoever becomes available."

Poole have moved to snap up Danny King, Adam Ellis, Steve Worrall, Stefan Nielsen and Josh MacDonald so far for their upcoming assault on the SGB Championship, leaving two riders still to be announced.

Discussing the latest on the search for new riders, Ford told the Pirates website: "We know that Poole fans might be getting a bit anxious that we seem to be behind the other sides in completing our line-up, but we are determined to take our time and ensure we do our very best in making the right decisions.

"Already we have named five of our team and I think most fans would agree that Danny, Adam, Steve, Stefan and Josh form a strong quintet.

"Our intentions do not stop there however and I trust that our fans will believe us when we declare that we want to make it as strong as possible.

"We are considering all our options and will be taking a very keen interest in this season's Australian Championship to see if that competitions throws up any surprises.

"We are of the view that we pretty much have the pick of whoever becomes available, now that our rival sides are complete and we are determined to make the most of that position."

The Australian Championship started at the weekend at Kurri Kurri, with the second round, staged Monday, won by Rohan Tungate.

The event culminates in South Australia on Saturday.

Pirates are gearing up for their first season in the second tier since 1990 having voluntarily dropped down from the SGB Premiership.

But Ford insists the club remain hungry for success.

He said: "We have come out of one of the club's most successful decades and despite dropping down into the Championship, it has not lessened our appetite for success.

"We want the 2020s to be equally, if not more successful for the club as we embark on this new era."