NATHAN Ablitt says now is the time for Poole Pirates to "kick on" after their "statement" win over Glasgow Tigers last week.

Pressure was on Poole to arrest their slump in form when fellow title hopefuls Glasgow came to Wimborne Road on Wednesday night.

But Pirates rose to the challenge, producing a 51-39 victory to keep their hopes of a top-two finish in the Championship alive.

Poole face two meetings this week, heading to Plymouth Gladiators in the Championship Jubilee League tonight (7pm), before welcoming Scunthorpe Scorpions for their penultimate regular league fixture on tomorrow evening (7.30pm).

Teenager Ablitt has shown glimpses of his potential this month, totalling 3+2 from three rides in defeat at Edinburgh Monarchs, before recording two third-placed finishes in the win over Glasgow.

Discussing the victory over the Tigers, Ablitt told the Daily Echo: "It was a great performance by the boys and a bit of improvement for myself.

"It’s good to contribute with a couple of points here and there against a really strong line-up.

"I think their reserves are four or five point average riders, so it’s good.

"It’s definitely encouraging for me and hopefully build on that. It’s been a lot better, but could still be a lot better."

He added: "I think we’ve been underperforming really as a side.

"At the start of the year, we showed what we can do and had a bit of a lull in our form, but (Wednesday) was a real statement and hopefully we can kick on for the rest of the meetings and really make a point in the season."

Asked if it was now about peaking at the right time as a team, Ablitt said: "For sure, there’s no point in us going unbeaten all year and then losing in the final.

"So hopefully we’ve sort of got the bad form out the way and from here to the end of the year is plain sailing."