PETERBOROUGH have been set a play-off target of 18 points from their last dozen Elite League matches.

The Readypower Panthers take on top-of-the-table Poole on Monday night (July 19) – the second of three home matches in the space of only seven days.

The Pirates are runaway leaders and have lost four of their first 20 matches, including an April defeat at the East of England Showground.

They’ve powered away from all their rivals with a string of stunning displays and boast both newly-crowned British Grand Prix winner Chris Holder and World Under 21 Champion Darcy Ward in their line-up.

Panthers’ team boss Trevor Swales said: “A lot of people reckon it’s the best team the Elite League has ever seen and I’m not going to argue with that.

“They have such tremendous strength in depth but we showed back in April that they aren’t unbeatable but it will need every rider to be on top form. We can’t afford any passengers and that’s the message we will have to drum home.”

A thumping 21-point win over top four rivals Swindon on Friday night was the perfect start to a hectic spell that could make-or-break the club’s chances of reaching the end of season title deciders.

Peterborough (34 points) are currently secure in fourth place – three points behind Lakeside with a match in hand, but three ahead of Belle Vue and four in front of Swindon.

The Aces have ridden four matches more than either Panthers or Swindon who both have 12 crunch clashes left in the title run-in.

The Peterborough management have been studying the remaining fixtures and come up with a tally of 52 points as their initial target.

Director of Speedway Peter Oakes said: “All the top teams have to meet each other and will clearly drop points along the way but we are fairly confident if we can get to 52 that will be enough.

“Last season Coventry were fourth with 52 points and that’s the sort of figure we have to get to be in with a real chance.”

The Panthers can reach that target simply by winning each of their last seven home league matches by at least seven points.

But Oakes warned: “It would be terrific to think we might get the 18 points at the East of England Showground but we will almost certainly need to add to our tally of just five points on the road.

“We have all accepted that Poole and Wolverhampton are going to make it into the play-offs, there’s no way they will drop enough points to lose out.

“But if you look at the records of the other teams chasing those last two spots we are reasonably well placed at the moment.

“On points dropped at home and points won away we are second in the mini-table of ourselves, Lakeside, Swindon and Belle Vue.

“We have lost one point at home and taken five away which puts us plus four.

“Lakeside have surrendered only two points in front of their own fans and collected nine on their travels giving them a plus seven figure.

“Swindon have won ten points away but dropped ten at home leaving them all square.

“Belle Vue have picked up four points away and lost six at home, leaving them on minus two.

“They’ve only got three away matches left at Eastbourne, Ipswich and Coventry so would almost certainly have to get points from them to put real pressure on ourselves and Swindon.”

Panthers, the first team to beat Poole this season, will be at full strength while the Pirates have also named their first choice septet for the clash.

Peterborough: Kenneth Bjerre, Krzysztof Buczkowski, Rory Schlein, Niels-Kristian Iversen, Troy Batchelor, Mathieu Tresarrieu, Norbert Kosciuch.

Poole: Chris Holder, Leon Madsen, Bjarne Pedersen, Artur Mroczka, Davey Watt, Darcy Ward, Jason Doyle.


RELEASE DATE: Sunday 18 July 2010