DEPLETED Pirates must go into their next three matches without injured duo Tony Rickardsson and Krzysztof Kasprzak, starting at Ipswich on July 24 (7.30pm).

Rickardsson has been advised by doctors not to race for at least a week after falling heavily and sustaining concussion while riding for Masarna in Sweden on Tuesday night.

The Swede, who fortunately escaped without breaking any bones, was kept in hospital for observation overnight before being released yesterday morning.

So he is ruled out of top-of-the-table Pirates' vital Elite League trip to Foxhall and their just as crucial visits to Eastbourne on Saturday and Belle Vue on Monday.

Kasprzak reported to Wimborne Road last night as he was scheduled to ride for Poole in their rained-off Four Team Tournament against Eastbourne, Peterborough and Ipswich, which was washed out at 6.30pm by heavy downpours.

But he carried with him the bad news that he has to go into hospital in Poland on Monday to have an operation to remove a lump in his groin.

The lump has grown following a track spill he suffered in his homeland earlier this month.

And doctors have advised he undergo the operation as soon as possible to cut out the growth. It means Poole go into their hectic three-away-matches-inside-five-days spell without four first choice riders.

Lukas Dryml (broken nose and heavy bruising to face) and Bjarne Pedersen (broken collarbone) are both sidelined as well.

Pirates will use guests Sam Ermolenko and Jason Lyons to cover for Pedersen and Rickardsson at Ipswich, while they will employ rider replacement in place of Dryml. Brent Werner comes in for Kasprzak at number six.

Steve Johnston and Lyons guest at Eastbourne and Daniel Nermark and Scott Nicholls guest at Belle Vue.