POOLE Pirates promoter Danny Ford has called on the hosts to produce a “big score” in their Knockout Cup opener against Edinburgh at Wimborne Road tomorrow (7.30pm).

The Monarchs make the long journey south for the first leg of the quarter-final, in a repeat of the 2021 final. The second leg takes place at Armadale next Friday.

Poole are eager to win back the trophy, having lost in last year’s final to Scunthorpe Scorpions.

Due to postponements, Pirates have had just one meeting this season, thrashing Oxford Cheetahs 61-29 on March 29.

Edinburgh meanwhile have also completed just one fixture so far, losing 47-43 at Berwick Bandits.

Looking ahead to this week’s meeting, Ford said: “The goal is quite simple. We want to be in the final again and go one better this season.

“To do that, we of course have to start by getting past Edinburgh. With us staging the first leg it is important not only to win the meeting, but to put a big score on the card so that we go up to Scotland next month with something to defend.

“With the interruptions to our schedule so far, it feels like we will be kick-starting our season once again on Wednesday and if we can put in the kind of performance we produced in our only meeting so far this year, then we would find ourselves being just where we want to be.”

Both teams are set to be at full strength, John Campbell’s side led by big-hitting Aussie Josh Pickering.

Pirates: Lawson, Thomsen, Brennan, Z Cook, B Cook (c), Hagon, Perry.

Edinburgh: Pickering, Fredriksen, Thomson, Castagna (c), Sedgmen, James, Coles.