PROMOTER Danny Ford insisted Pirates would again be calling on Zach Cook to guest at reserve for their home SGB Championship play-off semi-final first leg on Wednesday.

Plymouth’s Cook, the brother of regular Poole racer Ben, scored 8+3 as the Dorset club overcame Leicester at Wimborne Road in the Championship Knockout Cup semi-final two weeks ago.

He has been aiding his brother as a mechanic in Pirates’ pits this season and is once again set to step up in place of the injured Stefan Nielsen.

Ford told the Daily Echo: “Zach stepped in last week against Leicester in the cup and put in a fantastic performance with eight paid 11 from his rides.

“That was a sensational performance from a guest – the best we have seen all year in that position.

“We knew that losing Stefan was almost going to be impossible to replace at reserve but Zach did a hell of a job.

“Obviously he feels at home in that Pirates team. He has his brother Ben in there and a lot of the lads do know him because he’s been mechanic for Ben all year.

“He’s the logical fit to get into the team because he already knows the lads so well. He’s got good chemistry with them all and hopefully he can carry on doing jobs from a couple of weeks ago.”

Born in Cowra, 22-year-old Cook was assisted in the pits by the likes of Pirates favourites Chris and Jack Holder, as well as Brady Kurtz last time out.

“We’ve been lucky to have our Australian contingent in Brady, Jack and Chris helping out pretty much all year to be fair,” said Ford.

“They have been helping Ben a lot, obviously with it being his first year in British speedway – any advice you can take is vital, especially from riders of that calibre.

“They were helping out Zach a lot in the pits last time and that showed in his performances.

“To go and score something like that as a guest at reserve is fantastic. We are looking for a similar performance from him.”

Cook is set to partner Ben Basso at reserve for Pirates on Wednesday, with Danyon Hume moving up to the main body of the team at number two.