ALUN Rossiter fears Pirates could tomorrow end Swindon’s hopes of retaining their SGB Premiership crown.

Having overseen three defeats in the past four meetings, the Robins team boss admits only “a massive improvement” will allow his troops to keep alive their hopes of title glory.

Rossiter is Pirates’ tormentor-in-chief having been responsible for the Dorset side’s play-off demise in three of the past eight seasons.

But the 53-year-old, three times a league title winner with Poole as a rider, says only the return of “the real Swindon” will allow him to again put a spoke in his old team’s bid for silverware.

Asked if his septet could earn a second win at Poole in 2018, Rossiter told the Daily Echo: “If we continue to ride like we have done recently, no. But I know deep down that if the real Swindon turn up, we can do something.

“We need a massive improvement, otherwise our season could be over. The bottom line is we need something from the meeting.

“I’ve always believed the boys could take us to the play-offs but at the moment we are just so inconsistent.

“At home last week, Troy (Batchelor) got 13 and Nick (Morris) got six. Troy got five on Monday and Nick got 13 paid 15.

“We’ve been in the top two all year until recently. At a time when we need to consolidate, it has gone wrong.”

Pirates will be without Danish duo Nicolai Klindt and Frederik Jakobsen for the clash, with rider replacement utilised for the former and Ipswich’s Mark Riss guesting for the latter.

Josh Grajczonek, Richie Worrall, Kacper Woryna and Riss are eligible to cover Klindt’s rides, with reserve Woryna likely to take two.

Poole’s team shows four changes from the septet thrashed by Swindon in April, with Peter Kildemand, Linus Sundstrom, Mateusz Szczepaniak and James Shanes no longer part of the picture.

Rossiter said: “Poole are missing a couple of riders so we have to try to take advantage.

“But they have strengthened quite considerably. They have changed their team completely and are solid all the way through.

“We’ll be the underdogs on Wednesday and it is up to the boys to show me a bit of pride.

“There is a great rivalry between Swindon and Poole and I just want to see some more passion from them.

“There is only so much you can do as a team manager. It’s very frustrating at the moment.”

Swindon’s early-season victory at Poole was one of two away wins for the Blunsdon outfit this season, the other coming at Leicester that same month.

Pirates face a double header with Somerset and Swindon on Bank Holiday Monday, before a trip to King’s Lynn 48 hours later.

Pirates: (from) Brady Kurtz, Josh Grajczonek, Richie Worrall, Nicolai Klindt r/r, Chris Harris, Kacper Woryna, Mark Riss (guest).

Robins: (from) Troy Batchelor, David Bellego, Adam Ellis, Tobiasz Musielak, Nick Morris, Zach Wajtknecht, Jack Smith.