PIRATES chief Matt Ford is not making any bold predictions about where they will finish in the Elite League - despite the fact they are the bookies favourites to lift the title.

Twelve months ago, he stressed with conviction that he felt 2003 would be the year Pirates finally emulated their top-flight championship-winning sides of 1969 and 1994.

Ford got that right - and Poole also went on to complete a remarkable treble by winning the Knockout Cup and British League Cup as well.

Not surprising really when you consider the Dorset club took to the track with Grand Prix riders Tony Rickardsson, Leigh Adams, Bjarne Pedersen and Lukas Dryml.

And, following injury to Lukas, they ended it with Ales Dryml and Antonio Lindback also on board.

But Ford is playing his cards closer to his chest this time around, stressing that the play-offs are Poole's first target.

Only then, would they be able to think about the crown.

League champions generally struggle when defending their title, mainly due to speedway's annual cull of its top teams to make sure all tracks start on a level pegging again come tapes up on a new campaign.

So perhaps it is not so surprising that Ford and Mike Golding go into the 2004 term more uncertain about what the final outcome might be for Poole.

Rickardsson still spearheads Pirates, but Adams - their rider-of-the-year last season - has departed for Swindon after making a deep impression that will last a long time in the memories of Poole fans.

Pedersen returns with Magnus Zetterstrom as captain, while Jason Lyons joins from Belle Vue and Davey Watt, Antonio Lindback and Daniel Davidsson make up the rest of the team. Ford said: "We were the favourites last year and fortunately, what the bookies predicted came true.

"But this year, what with the strength of the other teams, even the two sides who have been put together late, Arena-Essex and Oxford, I don't think there is a favourite.

"Everyone is so strong. All of the 10 clubs are going to feel they have a chance of winning the league.

"Fingers crossed, if we can stay injury free and we have a lot of luck during the course of the season, I see no reason why we can't be up their pushing for the title at the end of the campaign.

"We have to get in the play-offs first though, so we have to finish in the top five.

"The crucial part is finishing in the top two to make sure we are in the two-legged final, or have home advantage in the one-off play-offs.

"Of course, it is impossible to do any better than last season in respect of trophies.

"But we have to do our best to keep some silverware in the Wimborne Road trophy cabinet.

"The expectancy level of our fans and sponsors is immense. We'll do everything we can possibly do to make sure we have a successful 2004. The target is the championship. That is the one we want to win."