PIRATES team manager Neil Middleditch is confident emerging talent Rohan Tungate will continue his scoring spree when he leaps into the main body of Poole’s line-up.

The Australian star is set to jump from reserve to don the number two race jacket when Pirates lock horns with King’s Lynn at Wimborne Road tonight (7.30pm).

Tungate’s eye-catching performances this season have seen him rack up 51+10 points in nine Pirates appearances, rapidly boosting his average from 3.93 to 5.33.

With new recruit Tomas H Jonasson snapped up on a 5.30 figure, Tungate has been promoted, with Jonasson joining Dawid Stachyra in the Poole reserve berths.

But boss Middleditch believes Tungate, who doubles up in the Premier League with Ipswich, is more than capable of making the step up having been one of Pirates’ rare shining lights this season.

Middleditch told the Daily Echo: “It is going to be difficult for him. Number two is not everyone’s favourite number.

“But when we told him, he was philosophical about it and the fact he will be riding with Chris Holder helps.

“I am sure Chris will help him along. That will be good for him. He is certainly capable of scoring.”

Middleditch added: “Rohan has done tremendously well this season.

“He has certainly adapted and that has also been reflected in his Premier League form.

“His confidence is high in the Premier League and he comes into the Elite League meetings with nothing to lose.

“He is very quick from the start, he is very slight and he seems jet-propelled. He handles and rides the bike very well. He has impressed me tremendously.

“He is very laid back and he is enjoying it, which is always a key factor.”

While Pirates are expecting to receive a timely boost provided by the debut appearance of Przemyslaw Pawlicki following his track crash last week, King’s Lynn have been hit hard by injury ahead of this evening’s Sky Sports-televised Elite League showdown.

The Stars will be without influential captain Mads Korneliussen after he suffered a broken shoulder blade and a fractured vertebrae in the Danish final on Friday. Swindon’s Edward Kennett will step in as a guest replacement. King’s Lynn will utilise rider replacement for David Howe as he has Premier League commitments.