GRZEGORZ Walasek has answered Pirates' SOS and will ride for them at Wolves in the Sky Sports Elite League tonight (7.30pm).

The Polish star, who broke his left ankle in a track spill against Wolves in the Knock-Out Cup in early April, has proved his fitness on the continent.

So he returns for Poole Meridian Lifts at Monmore Green in place of Magnus Zetterstrom, who has been dropped one match earlier than expected by Pirates chiefs Matt Ford and Mike Golding.

Zetterstrom - or Zorro as he is known in British speedway circles - originally replaced Walasek in Poole's team in early April and was told at the time he would probably be in the side until the end of the season.

But he was informed on Wednesday before Pirates' home meeting with Ipswich that he would have to make way for Walasek's return from injury this Wednesday in the home match against Wolves.

Since being told of his imminent departure, Zetterstrom's form has plummeted.

He picked up three paid four against Ipswich at home, but then got only one paid two at Ipswich on Thursday and one paid two at Oxford on Friday.

Pirates beat Ipswich 51-39 at home, eked out a 45-45 draw in Suffolk, but then went down 46-44 after leading 21-15 at Cowley.

Ford, whose Poole side are fifth in the league table, said: "Magnus showed his disappointment in our decision in the way he rode at Ipswich and Oxford.

"We thought we were doing the best thing by Magnus by keeping him in for those three fixtures and the one at Wolves tonight.

"But in hindsight, perhaps when the decision was made we should have done it permanently then because Greg goes excellently at Ipswich and would also have scored more than one point at Oxford.

"We were so close to winning both those meetings and not doing so could cost us dearly at the end of the season when the top five title play-off places are determined."

Ford added: "Greg is concerned that his first match back is at Wolves and he hopes people don't judge him on his performance there as it is a track he hasn't got to grips with.

"However, at least Greg's heart is in it. I would prefer to have someone who goes there in the right frame of mind rather than goes through the motions."

Walasek returns at number two for Pirates after riding for his Polish club Czestochowa against Torun - his Pirates' team-mate Tony Rickardsson's outfit - yesterday.

In all, Walasek has got six meetings under his belt since he returned to track action about two weeks ago after a break of more than a month.

Peterborough, meanwhile, yesterday confirmed Zetterstrom had joined them as a reserve following a shake up at the East of England Showground.

Zorro joins the Panthers, as revealed in the Daily Echo on Saturday, in place of Henning Bager, while Hans Clausen replaces Bo Brhel and Oliver Allen comes in for injured Simon Stead.

Zetterstrom will make his Peterborough debut in their Sky Sports-covered showdown against Eastbourne at home on Wednesday.

Panthers promoter Jim Lynch said: "To have a rider like Magnus at reserve is a real bonus for us."

Pirates go to third-placed Wolves aiming to become the first team to pick up a league point there this season.

Wolves hammered Poole 57-33 at Monmore Green in the Knock-Out Cup last month after the two sides had drawn 45-45 at Wimborne Road in a first round, first leg, clash.

Pirates: 1 Gary Havelock, 2 Grzegorz Walasek, 3 Hans Andersen, 4 Bjarne Pedersen, 5 Tony Rickardsson, 6 Tomasz Chrzanowski, 7 Mariusz Staszewski.

Wolves: 1 Mikael Karlsson, 2 David Howe, 3 Peter Karlsson, 4 Jesper Jensen, 5 Paul Hurry, 6 Daniel Nermark, 7 Chris Neath.

Results update, Elite League, Saturday: Coventry 60 (A Jonsson 13+1) King's Lynn 30 (J Lyons 11), Eastbourne 55 (D Norris 11+3, M Loram 11+1, J Screen 11+1) Ipswich 35 (S Nicholls 16).

Fixtures, tonight: Belle Vue v Oxford, Wolves v Pirates.