NEIL Middleditch insists tonight’s clash is not a grudge match as Pirates prepare to welcome Lakeside to Wimborne Road.

Poole Castle Cover host Hammers this evening (7.30pm) as they bid to keep their slim Elite League play-off hopes alive.

And team boss Middleditch has played down the rivalry between the teams, despite Lakeside being one of the clubs to call for an official inquiry after Pirates signed Hans Andersen last month.

Andersen’s move and subsequent allegations of average manipulation have dominated the agenda of late, with a Speedway Control Bureau inquiry continuing.

But Middleditch told the Echo: “There has been a lot of mud slinging and Poole seem to be the butt of everything because we’ve been so successful.

“It’s the British mentality of knocking people down when they’re doing well.”

Lakeside promotion team Stuart Douglas and Jon Cook last month joined calls for an inquiry after claims of alleged cheating by Pirates as Matt Ford managed to fit Andersen into his revised line-up.

But despite the war of words, Middleditch said: “It’s not a grudge match. Every match now is important to win and show what Poole are capable of to fans and British speedway in general.”

With last week’s shock decision taken by the Elite League to reduce the play-off places from six to four teams, struggling Pirates have it all to do if they are to gain anything from what has been a difficult season.

Middleditch added: “It’s not a lost cause and we’ll never give up until the end, but it makes our task difficult.

“We’ve got to show what we’re capable of when we’ve got a full team. When Chris Holder is back we’ll be able to show just that.”

Pirates are sweating on the fitness of Holder, as he attempts to recover from a broken collarbone.

The Australian is hopeful of making a return against Hammers, but Pirates will use rider replacement if he fails recover in time.

Pirates: 1 Hans Andersen, 2 Daniel Davidsson, 3 Joe Screen, 4 Chris Holder, 5 Bjarne Pedersen, 6 Paul Fry, 7 Karol Baran.

Lakeside: 1 Lee Richardson, 2 Kauko Nieminen, 3 Adam Shields, 4 Jonas Davidsson, 5 Joonas Kylmakorpi, 6 Phil Morris, 7 Stuart Robson.

The Speedway Control Bureau yesterday released a statement about their inquiry into alleged average manipulation by Pirates.

It read: “As has been reported in the press, the Speedway Control Bureau (SCB) is currently investigating allegations that have been circulating regarding Poole Speedway.

“Even though no specific allegations have been made, the SCB undertook to investigate the claims that were being made in respect of Rider’s Calculated Match Averages (CMA’s) and the possible manipulation of the CMA’s.

“Consequently the SCB arranged that Graham Reeve, the SCB’s Administrator, would compile a dossier for the SCB members to consider.

“This dossier has been made available to the members, who are now considering the situation and a further statement will made in due course.”