Wolves must beat Pirates to make final

Title-holders Wolves must get past runaway Elite League leaders Poole in the play-off semi-final to have a chance of retaining their crown.

The Dorset side, having indicated they would select Peterborough should Lakeside fail to get through, then sprung a huge surprise last night and elected to race the defending champions instead - after a vote by the Pirates riders.

Team manager Neil Middleditch admitted that the fitness of Parrys International Wolves stars Fredrik Lindgren and Tai Woffinden, both knocked out a week ago at Swindon along with Ty Proctor, had been a factor.

And he also revealed that the riders had initially produced a split vote after their defeat at Coventry last night made the Bees the fourth qualifiers along with Peterborough.

Asked if the theory was to tackle Wolves now rather than potentially in the final when their riders would be fitter, Middleditch replied: "That's what I think. Freddie's coming off an injury. Tai's had an injury and maybe there might be a little bit of an Achilles heel. But time will tell.

"We sat in there and we had a vote. First of all we had a split decision, if you like. A couple of the riders perhaps felt Peterborough. Some even thought Coventry again.

"But we analysed various things throughout the season and then we came up with Wolverhampton.

"Perhaps it surprised some people, but the boys made the final decision. I was in agreement."

Wolves are the only team to take maximum league points off the Pirates in two fixtures this year. But they suffered heavy defeats in the away matches against the Pirates, while Middleditch reckons there is more to come at Monmore Green from his men.

"Last time at Wolves we didn't have a particularly good meeting," he said of the 10-point defeat. "Chris (Holder) was under the weather; neither Bjarne (Pedersen) nor Davey (Watt) had good meetings there.

"I know Wolves are consistently good at home, but I feel that we're consistently good away from home."

Wolves will host the first leg with the return at Wimborne Road a week later.

A big screen will be erected at Monmore Green so fans can see the action as Coventry host Peterborough in the other tie.