FORMER Pirate Joe Thompson will guest for Poole in tomorrow night’s clash at Oxford Cheetahs as Tobias Thomsen recovers from a foot injury.

The Dane picked up the issue at the weekend, and whilst it was first feared Thomsen would be out for six weeks, it is believed it is only a sprain.

In the meantime, Poole have turned to Thompson, who rode for Pirates last year, to fill their septet for Wednesday’s return to action against Oxford.

Pirates promoter Danny Ford believes the test posed by facing Cheetahs in their own backyard is the hardest on offer in the Championship.

Ford shared: "I do feel though that at present Oxford is the hardest place to go to in the Championship.

“Especially as they have now found some real form in the last month or so and have dished out a few hammerings.

“So we face a real tough task, made that much harder with the loss of Toby (Tobias Thomsen) who, himself,  was coming into some decent form.

“Hopefully though, Joe Thompson, who we know well from last season, will be able to step in and do a good job as our guest on Wednesday."

Pirates have already travelled to Oxford Stadium once this season, narrowly losing out 45-44 in the BSN Series.

That proved only to be a slight bump in the road for Pirates, who still topped their group with five wins from their remaining fixtures.

"That meeting left us with mixed emotions as we always knew it was going to be tough to get a result there,” recalled Ford.

“But then to be leading with just two heats to go and not get the victory made it something of a disappointment. 

“Zach (Cook) was not a hundred percent that night and he is generally better than a paid four return and apart, arguably, from Richard (Lawson) and Tom (Brennan) I can see opportunities for improvements amongst the team and we don't need much to get over the line and bank a couple more league points, which would strengthen our position in the table.”