KAROL Zabik could be out for six weeks if doctors confirm he has broken his scaphoid in a Polish hospital later today.

Pirates' second string fell heavily and sustained a suspected break during their 51-43 home Craven Shield win over Eastbourne yesterday lunchtime.

He quickly smothered the injury with ice to try and get the swelling down, but his wrist is believed to have ballooned up after a self-inflicted heat 14 spill.

Zabik, who scored five paid six from four outings, withdrew from last night's return at Arlington, where Poole Castle Cover used rider replacement in his absence during a 52-42 defeat.

It means the Dorset club will have to beat Swindon at home on Wednesday and get at least a draw at Blunsdon in the following night's return to qualify for the semis or final.

But it is unclear whether Zabik will be fit to take his place in those two matches against the Robins.

Talking after his side's defeat at Eastbourne last night, Ford said: "Karol went to the hospital but we believe he left without seeing a doctor because the queue was very long.

"We haven't been able to speak to Karol, but David Adams, one of his sponsors, from Wessex Marine, went with him to hospital and we spoke with him.

"David told us Karol has movement in his wrist, but that Karol is very nervous because if it is a broken scaphoid, a rider would have movement in it.

"Karol can't put any pressure on it, and we are just hoping it is not a scaphoid break.

"He has booked an appointment for 1pm tomorrow (Saturday) back in Poland so he took it easy and iced it last night.

"He was due to fly out of England at 8am so he can get treatment and hopefully have an X-ray taken over in Poland."

Looking back on the third bend, final lap crash with his side in a 4-2 position and the Pole in a safe third place, Zabik said: "It was a tough heat. In front of me, Zibi (Suchecki) and the Eastbourne guy (Cameron Woodward) were fighting hard.

"I was just trying to beat someone. There was a lot of sand on the track, and I had never ridden in conditions like that before. I could hardly see.

"I'm disappointed I went so hard. I should have kept in third place because it would have been a good result for the team as well."

Zabik, more used to the big continental tracks rather than Britain's smaller circuits, added: "There was no grip, and I haven't come across this type of track at all. It was very sandy and very slick.

"I need to have an X-ray and couldn't go to Eastbourne because I couldn't hold the handlebars or the clutch, so I wouldn't have been able to ride.

"I just hope I haven't broken my left wrist."