PIRATES skipper Danny King believes it is tough to call a favourite for the SGB Championship title this year, insisting: "There's not one team that just stands out."

Poole enter the season as reigning champions, following their play-off final win over Glasgow Tigers back in November.

King will once again be tasked with leading the Dorset club to glory, with Steve Worrall and Ben Cook also returning for a second consecutive season in the skull and crossbones.

They have been joined by four new members of the septet in Zach Cook, Richard Lawson, Drew Kemp and Nathan Ablitt, who come in to replace Stefan Nielsen, Rory Schlein, Benjamin Basso and Danyon Hume.

Pirates get back on track when they host Peterborough Panthers in Bjarne Pedersen's farewell meeting on Wednesday. Their first Championship outing comes at Birmingham Brummies on April 13.

Assessing the challenge ahead in the Championship this year, captain King said: "It’s a very solid league this year.

"There’s not one team that just stands out. I think it’s quite consistent.

"You need to be on top form, certainly at home. We’ve got to make this a fortress, like we did last year.

"That starts today. We get our heads down and work out and get the track how we want it and we push forward.

"You need to pick up the points on the road as well.

"So it’s going to be a tough year for sure, but I’m really confident in the team we’ve got and I like the look of it."