PIRATES chief Matt Ford is refusing to rule out a 2013 Poole return for Darcy Ward – but says he will wait before making a final decision.

The Australian sensation is recovering from the fractured shoulder blade he suffered while riding in the Swedish Grand Prix on May 4.

Ward, who has set his sights on a possible World Championship return in Copenhagen on June 29, does not feature in Pirates’ current line-up.

Promoter Ford moved to draft in Przemyslaw Pawlicki in place of Ward after the then Pirates number one had sustained his injury.

That reshuffle means that Poole may now struggle to restore Ward, once fit, to their one-to-seven – due to the 21-year-old’s high average.

But Ford would consider making the change if Ward demonstrated a return to top form following an inconsistent start to the Elite League campaign.

Ford told the Daily Echo: “I think we should just wait to see what happens.

“Darcy is still a month away from turning a wheel and I think that it would be foolish to put him back in without a week or two of racing under his belt.

“Of course, I would put him back in if figures were correct and he showed that he had returned, come back into form and come back riding to his normal ability.

“At this point in time, we have made a commitment to a couple of riders. I am happy with the team as it is and let’s just see what happens in a month’s time.”

Meanwhile, Pirates have named Leigh Lanham as a guest replacement for injured Tomas H Jonasson for Friday’s trip to Lakeside.