MATT Ford believes his promising support acts will ensure Poole finish the season top of the Elite League bill.

The Wimborne Road outfit has not carried off the top prize since 2004, when Ryan Sullivan, Bjarne Pedersen and Antonio Lindback led Pirates to a league and Knock-Out Cup double.

Great Dane Pedersen is the only surviving member of that super septet in Poole's 2008 line-up.

But Ford can see huge similarities between the two sides, as the likes of Karol Zabik and Chris Holder bid for their breakthroughs at the top level.

He hopes they will follow Pedersen and Lindback's 2004 example by making their names in the Elite and landing Pirates the title.

Ford said: "It was great to have the likes of Krzysztof Kasprzak, Bjarne and Lindback in there - all supporting Ryan.

"That team was just made up of seven, six and five-point riders.

"They hadn't become the finished item by any means but they all made the breakthrough that year.

"What we need is exactly the same with Zabik, Holder and Zibi Suchecki this year.

"This needs to be the season where they all click and become stars."

Ford claims his super seven will have to put "four points" on their collective average to have a chance of success in the Elite League.

He is confident former world under-21 champion Zabik and Aussie international Holder will provide much of the improvement.

But the Pirates co-owner hopes his more seasoned campaigners will play their part as well.

"I think people can see we have two absolute snips in Karol and Chris", Ford added.

"The two of them are on very low starting averages and we can benefit from that.

"People will also be really interested in how well Suchecki rides the Poole track.

"And having the experience of Bjarne, Davey Watt and Adam Skornicki chucked into that melting pot too makes for an exciting-looking team.

"I think it has captured the fans' imaginations and I've heard they're very happy with what we've done."

Pirates started their title-winning campaign with Tony Rickardsson and Jason Lyons as their top two.

On paper, their 2008 heat leader duo of Pedersen and Watt appears to have greater point-scoring potential.

And Ford claims his new combination of top end firepower and promising young guns will have top flight promoters running scared.

He added: "There weren't any superstars in the team from 2004 - we just had Ryan on an eight-point average.

"But this time around, we have Bjarne on a nine-point figure and Davey with a higher starting average than Jason did in 2004.

"I know my fellow promoters are looking at this team as one that is capable of winning the championship.

"We take great heart from that and hopefully, we can push forward and go for it."