TEAM boss Cami Brown says his team must stand up to the “acid test” at Poole.
The Allied Vehicles Tigers go to Dorset tonight (Weds) in the first leg of the MAXICab KO Cup semi-final.
In recent years Brown’s side has had a disappointing record at Wimborne Road, apart from one league title-winning performance at the end of 2023.
Now he wants to bring back the spirit of that glorious display. Brown said: “We’ve got a wretched record at Poole apart from one outstanding performance there when we won the league title on their home patch.
“We just need to produce that sort of grit and determination again. This is the acid test.
“It’s a very difficult track to go to. But I believe we have the riders to deal with it.
“This is the first leg of the KO Cup semi-final. We go there to win or keep the scores as close as possible to finish the job at Ashfield.
“We could yet be facing the Pirates again in the Championship play-offs and BSN final, so it’s important we deliver a big performance.
“We bring in Fraser Bowes as a guest for Villads (Nagel) who has Danish commitments. Dayle Wood comes in for the injured Max Perry.
“Poole remain the benchmark when it comes to winning trophies. They’ve been incredible since returning to the Championship in 2021.
“But it’s our job to stop them winning everything. We are the top two sides in the league and this is going to be a blockbuster rivalry.”
Team: 1.Chris Harris (c), 2.Fraser Bowes (guest), 3.Dan Thompson, 4.Leon Flint, 5.Kyle Howarth, 6.Dayle Wood (guest), 7.Freddy Hodder.
*The MAXICab KO Cup semi-final, second leg is at Ashfield on Sunday, September 7 at 5pm.