PIRATES skipper Gary Havelock believes they are capable of going through their Sky Sports Elite League programme unbeaten at home.

But he stressed he would prefer Poole Meridian Lifts Pirates to lift one of the two trophies still open to them this season - the league title or Craven Shield - rather than protect their immaculate Wimborne Road record.

Fourth-placed Pirates go into tonight's home clash against Belle Vue (7.30pm) looking to extend their winning home sequence to eight in a row.

Another victory will consolidate their position as they continue their push for an end-of-season top five title play-off place.

Poole are the only club still with a 100 per cent home record going into tonight's clash with the Aces after Wolves were held to a 45-45 draw by Coventry at Monmore Green a fortnight ago.

Wolves held Pirates to a 45-45 draw at Wimborne Road in April when they knocked the Dorset club out of the Elite League Knock-Out Cup.

Other than that, Havelock's boys have won their last seven home league meetings on the trot as well as two challenge matches before their KO Cup exit.

Havelock, leading Pirates at number one tonight, said: "We have become a very good team at home.

"Tony Rickardsson is virtually unbeatable here and he doesn't drop many points. The reserves have weighed the track up as well, in fact everyone in the side has. It is coming together well.

"It was a shame we didn't have any meetings over the past two weeks. We had a mad May with so many fixtures and then we had nothing for a fortnight, although it has been good to have a rest."

Havelock added: "We just have a solid team at home. Anyone is capable of scoring heat wins on this track. With respect, most teams have some riders who won't win races but the way our team is set up, the two reserves can ride and score points.

"All the riders are capable of getting eight or nine points a meeting, so we know we are going to win if four or five do that.

"You only have to get 46. Not all seven are going to score seven or eight on a given night, but if five guys get 10, you've won.

"It would be great to go through the whole league season unbeaten at home. But we'd prefer to win something, some silverware.

"It is a long old season and let's hope we get into the play-offs.

"Eastbourne are flying at the top of the table at the moment. But if we can get into the top three and get a home draw, anything is possible for us."

Isle of Wight asset Adam Shields guests for Pirates tonight in place of Tomasz Chrzanowski.

The Pole is unavailable because of a court case commitment in his homeland.

Belle Vue, beaten 52-38 at Wimborne Road in the A fixture in April, are at full strength for the B fixture.

Pirates: 1 Gary Havelock, 2 Bjarne Pedersen, 3 Hans Andersen, 4 Grzegorz Walasek, 5 Tony Rickardsson, 6 Adam Shields (guest), 7 Mariusz Staszewski.

Belle Vue: 1 Sam Ermolenko, 2 Kaj Laukkanen, 3 Jason Lyons, 4 Brian Karger, 5 Jason Crump, 6 Blair Scott, 7 Tomasz Jedrzejak.

Rickardsson's Grand Prix team partner Sebastian Ulamek has been dropped by King's Lynn. The Pole has continued riding in Poland, Sweden and Slovenia despite suffering from a hand injury, but has not appeared for the Knights.