RYAN Sullivan gave Pirates a timely Elite League title play-off boost by scorching to his first full home maximum for the club.

The Australian ace, who has recaptured his best form in the past few weeks, had got 16 paid 18 points from six rides in a 57-33 win over King's Lynn in May, 1998, during his first spell with Poole.

But rather than being paid for his maximum this time Sullivan, who left Pirates at the end of 1998 and only returned in May this year, went through his five-ride card unbeaten by anyone last night.

His first full maximum in his 71st appearance in all competitions, including challenge matches, for the Dorset club came only five nights ahead of their crucial title showdown against Wolves.

It means Poole RIAS will travel to the Black Country on Monday for the first leg of the final with their spearhead rider in his best shape for about two and a half months.

Sullivan, who had been badly hindered by mechanical problems, told the Wimborne Road faithful: "It has been a long time coming.

"But this maximum has arrived at the right time of the season with us meeting Wolves in the final on Monday.

"Hopefully I can take this sort of form into the play-offs and we can come out on top."

Sullivan, lightning out of the gate, reeled off pillar to post victories in heats four and 11 and team-rode superbly with Daniel Davidsson to peg Krzysztof Kasprzak, riding for the Poles, behind them in heat seven.

Tomasz Chrzanowski briefly led Sullivan out of the gate in heat 13 but the Pirate dived under the Pole on the second bend to go on and take the chequered flag.

Then Sullivan scorched outside Kasprzak on the same corner in the final race after being outgated again before going on to complete his full maximum in fine style.

Poole, without Antonio Lindback, who was being rested but will return for the final, predictably proved far too good for the Poles.

But Chrzanowski, Kasprzak - the only visitor to register heat wins in 10 and 12 - Roman Chromik and Englishman Andy Smith, who holds a Polish licence, posed enough problems to make the fixture worthwhile.

Indeed, with Magnus Zetterstrom and Daniel Davidsson recording two confidence-boosting heat wins apiece, it was a good warm up meeting for the Wolves clashes on Monday and then in the return at Wimborne Road on October 11.

Matej Ferjan, Bjarne Pedersen and Kasprzak, albeit for the Poles not Poole, who he will ride for at Wolves on Monday, also impressed in front of one of the smallest crowds at Wimborne Road for many years.

A win is a win, but, perhaps the most important aspect to come out of this fixture-filler was that Pirates did not pick up any unwanted injuries so near to the title play-off final.

Pirates will meet Swindon in the BSPA Knockout Cup semi-final after Belle Vue were kicked out of the competition.

The Aces were unable to run their quarter-final, second leg, against Swindon on Wednesday because their track was unfit, not because of rain. So they were kicked out of the competition - like Coventry in an earlier round - because that was the night last-eight ties had to be completed.

Poole host the Robins in the first leg on Wednesday, October 6 and travel to Swindon for the second leg the following night.

Ipswich and Arena-Essex are the other semi-finalists and they meet home and away on the same dates.

If Pirates get to the final, they will stage the first leg on October 20.

Ipswich have pencilled in October 21 and Arena October 22 for the second leg, respectively.

HEAT DETAILS

Pirates: 1 Bjarne Pedersen (2*-3-2-2*) 9+2, 2 Magnus Zetterstrom (3-0-3-1*) 7+1, 3 Matej Ferjan (3-3-3-2-1) 12, 4 Mark Lemon (1-1-1-1) 4, 5 Ryan Sullivan (3-3-3-3-3) 15, 6 Daniel David-sson (3-2*-1-3) 9+1, 7 (guest) Danny Warwick (1-0-1-0) 2. Team manager: Neil Middleditch.

Polish Select: 1 Tomasz Chrzanowski (1-4-2-1-0) 8, 2 Robert Kasprzak (0-0-0) 0, 3 Krzysztof Kasprzak (2-2-3-3-2) 12, 4 Jacek Rempala (0-0-0-0) 0, 5 Andy Smith (2-1*-2-0) 5+1, 6 Adam Pawliczek (0-2-0-1) 3, 7 Roman Chromik (2-1*-2-2) 7+1, 8 Karol Maleecha (0) 0. Team manager: Wiktor Lewandowski.

Referee: Barry Richardson.

Ht 1: Zetterstrom, Pedersen, Chrzanowski, R Kasprzak, 60.05 (5-1).

Ht 2: Davidsson, Chromik, Warwick, Pawliczek (fell remounted), 61.30 (9-3).

Ht 3: Ferjan, K Kasprzak, Lemon, Rempala, 60.40 (13-5).

Ht 4: Sullivan, Smith, Chromik, Warwick, 60.20 (16-8).

Ht 5: Ferjan, Chrzanowski (tactical rider double points), Lemon, R Kasprzak, 60.90 (20-12).

Ht 6: Pedersen, Pawliczek, Smith, Zetterstrom, 61.40 (23-15).

Ht 7: Sullivan, Davidsson, K Kasprzak (tactical rider double points), Rempala, 61.30 (28-17).

Ht 8: Zetterstrom, Chromik, Warwick, Maleecha, 61.90 (32-19).

Ht 9: Ferjan, Smith, Lemon, Pawliczek (retired), 61.00 (36-21).

Ht 10: K Kasprzak, Pedersen, Zetterstrom, Rempala, 60.40 (39-24).

Ht 11: Sullivan, Chrzanowski, Davidsson, R Kasprzak, 61.00 (43-26).

Ht 12: K Kasprzak, Ferjan, Pawliczek, Warwick, 61.30 (45-30).

Ht 13: Sullivan, Pedersen, Chrzanowski, Smith, 60.90 (50-31).

Ht 14: Davidsson, Chromik, Lemon, Rempala, 62.20 (54-33).

Ht 15: Sullivan, K Kasprzak, Ferjan, Chrzanowski, 60.30 (58-35).

Results, Wednesday, Challenge: Arena-Essex 62 Polish Select 33.