WORLD champion Chris Holder has backed his Poole Pirates team-mates Maciej Janowski and Tomas H Jonasson to succeed in tonight’s Speedway GP Challenge.

Holder, currently sidelined after his horror smash at Coventry, first earned his place in the Grand Prix series by qualifying at Brandon Stadium four years ago.

After retaining his position at the shale sport’s top table with eighth-place finishes in the next two campaigns, Poole’s Aussie ace went on to lift the crown in 2012 and he was in contention to defend his title before injury curtailed his campaign.

And despite Janowski (pictured) sweating on his own fitness after a knee problem forced him to withdraw from Pirates’ trip to Lakeside last night, Holder believes his Poole colleagues can make home advantage count in their chase for a top-three finish at Wimborne Road.

Holder told the Daily Echo: “They are definitely capable, especially Maciej. He has been one of the best guys around Poole this season and he has to fancy his chances.

“The track will be a bit more of an advantage for Maciej than Tomas, who has only been back here for the past couple of months.

“When you have raced a track all season, you become comfortable and while a lot of the guys will have ridden there before, Maciej is there every week and knows all about the good and bad parts.

“There will be no surprises for him so it is probably one of his better chances, but no one should rule out Tomas. He has hit a bit of form and is going really well at the moment.”

Holder continued: “It is a tough meeting because all the top riders are there, battling for one of those top three spots, and nobody wants to give them away because the prize is massive.

“You always need a little bit of luck and things to work in your favour on the day, but I am sure they can do it.

“They just have to focus on putting it together on the night. Hopefully, for them and for Poole, they can do it.”

The Pirates duo's hopes were yesterday boosted when second-favourite Matej Zagar opted to withdraw from the meeting to focus his attentions on securing a top-eight finish in the current Grand Prix series.

Croatian Jurica Pavlic replaces Zagar, while Chris Harris and Lewis Bridger fill the reserve berths.

Ahead of the prestigious event, Janowski was last night rated among the favourites to qualify at 6-5 behind Niels-Kristian Iversen (2-5) and Kenneth Bjerre (evens), with Jonasson priced at 5-2.

GP Challenge line-up: H Andersen, MJ Jensen, M Smolinski, V Milik, M Janowski, T Batchelor, J Pavlic, NK Iversen, K Bjerre, A Loktaev, D Nermark, K Kasrpzak, Prz Pawlicki, TH Jonasson, Pi Pawlicki, D King. Reserves: C Harris, L Bridger.