PIRATES star Bjarne Pedersen believes they should be able to secure at least the bonus point when they visit Oxford in the Elite League tonight (August 27 7.30pm).

Poole RIAS travel to Sandy Lane with a mighty 21-point lead in the battle for the bonus after beating the Silver Machine 58-37 at home on Wednesday.

And even though they go into the match using rider replacement for unavailable Antonio Lindback, Pedersen is confident the Dorset club can still push Oxford all the way.

Pirates have already won 47-46 at Cowley Stadium in the league this season and also lost narrowly 48-45 in a challenge match.

So the Dane feels six-man Poole are capable of winning on the night at Oxford, a result that would confirm their place in the two-legged title play-off final.

Pedersen said: "We will go to Oxford and give it our best shot.

"We know it will be tough but maybe we can go there and win if everyone in our team rides to their best. If we can get the bonus, it would mean we will finish top of the table, but even if we don't win, I think we should be okay to bring home the bonus.

"I think if we get that, we will be top of the league because we still have one more home meeting to go, against Belle Vue, and one away one against the Aces, so we can get the points we need.

"Wolves have matches in hand, but they need to win them all, home and away, so it will be very tough for them to overhaul us. It would be special for us to finish on top of the league."

Pedersen, who top-scored with 14 points for Pirates in their home win over Oxford, added: "It was vital we bounced back from our defeat against Swindon so quickly in front of our own supporters. Having said that, last week was only a challenge meeting. It was nothing to do with the league.

"We had a night when everyone was trying new things on their bikes, whereas against Oxford everyone was using their usual set ups and engines and were on their normal pace."

Pedersen was particularly impressive against Oxford, especially during his two late heat wins over Greg Hancock.

But the quietly spoken and modest Dane said: "It isn't only one rider who can win a meeting. It is the whole team.

"Everyone rode superbly and that was why we can beat a side like Oxford by 21 points."

Poole have reiterated there is no home meeting at Wimborne Road on the next two Wednesdays and that their next meeting is when Belle Vue visit Dorset on Thursday, September 9.

The Elite League Riders' Championship is being staged at Poole on Sunday, September 12 but there is no meeting at Wimborne Road on Wednesday, September 15.

Pirates will host challenge matches on Wednesdays' September 22 and 29.

Lindback misses tonight's meeting because he has to be in Rybnik, Poland, to take part in official practice for the European Under-19 Final on Saturday.

Oxford: 1 Rider replacement for Sebastian Ulamek (injured), 2 Travis McGowan, 3 Ryan Fisher, 4 Rafal Dobrucki, 5 Greg Hancock, 6 Jonas Davidsson, 7 Niels-Kristian Iversen.

Pirates: 1 Bjarne Pedersen, 2 Krzysztof Kasprzak, 3 Matej Ferjan, 4 Rider replacement for Antonio Lindback (unavailable), 5 Ryan Sullivan, 6 Daniel Davidsson, 7 Magnus Zetterstrom.

Results, last night, Elite League: Ipswich 54 Peterborough 40, Swindon 47 Coventry 46 (Elite League A), Swindon 50 Coventry 44 (Elite League B).