PIRATES go into their crunch home Elite League clash against Oxford tonight (7.30pm) without the services of Polish reserve Tomasz Chrzanowski.

The 22-year-old rider is attending a court case in his homeland this week and Poole Meridian Lifts are able to replace him with a Premier League guest.

That's because Chrzanowski has been deemed not to be in "the right frame of mind mentally from a riders' safety point of view" to race tonight by the British Speedway Promoters' Association.

Pirates also line up against the Cheetahs in the Sky Sports-sponsored competition with Mariusz Staszewski promoted from number seven to four in their side.

And Danish international Bjarne Pedersen drops down to the number six berth to partner guest Dave Watt, of Newcastle, at reserve for the Dorset club.

It is a Poole shuffle round forced by Chrzanowski's appearance in the court case for an alleged traffic offence and by the fact that he and Staszewski have just been given new green sheet averages.

Both Poles had been riding off assessed averages of 4.50 since the start of the season - their debut British campaigns.

But now they have both completed 12 matches, Chrzanowski has a proper new average of 4.78 and Staszewski one of 5.14.

Staszewski's figure is high enough to lift him out of his reserve berth for Oxford's visit tonight and for Poole's league trip to King's Lynn on Saturday when Adams Shields, of Isle of Wight, will guest in place of Chrzanowski.

Pirates co-promoter Matt Ford said: "Tomasz is unable to ride for us in our next two matches because he has to be in court in Poland.

"He wouldn't have been able to fully concentrate on his riding this week until after the court case is over, so the BSPA have given us dispensation to bring in Premier League guests.

"Dave Watt, who is a Poole asset and lives in the town, has been going well for Newcastle on loan this season and he gets his chance to impress us tonight.

"Adam Shields, another Pirates asset, is in excellent form for Isle of Wight. He comes in at King's Lynn and we hope they can both do a good job for us.

"Bjarne drops down to reserve for tonight's meeting as his new green sheet average, along with the rest of the sides, comes into effect on Saturday for the first time.

"That means Bjarne goes back up to number four at King's Lynn with Mariusz dropping down to seven again and Adam riding at six. It is probably useful in the week Tomasz is away that Bjarne drops to reserve.

"Mariusz's home form in the last two weeks has been disappointing, so, hopefully, Bjarne can get in the big points for us against Oxford from number six.

"Having said that, Oxford are a useful side. And the fact they can use Leigh Adams, both Dryml brothers and Steve Johnston as rider replacement in place of injured Brian Andersen should benefit them.

"We are expecting a tough battle but would hope to win by at least three points to pick up the bonus."

Pirates: 1 Gary Havelock, 2 Grzegorz Walasek, 3 Brian Andersen, 4 Mariusz Staszewski, 5 Tony Rickardsson, 6 Bjarne Pedersen, 7 Dave Watt.

Oxford: 1 Leigh Adams, 2 Lukas Dryml, 3 Steve Johnston, 4 Ales Dryml, 5 Rider replacement for Brian Andersen (injured), 6 Mark Lemon, 7 Andrew Appleton.

Pirates' new green sheet averages with effect from June 1 are: Rickardsson 9.79 (currently 9.63), Havelock 7.91 (8.06), Andersen 6.93 (6.70), Walasek 6.41 (6.41), Pedersen 5.31 (5.12), Staszewski 5.14* (4.50), Chrzanowski 4.78 (4.50). * with effect from today.