WEYMOUTH Doonan Wildcats chairman Phil Bartlett has hit back in the war of words with National League rivals Bournemouth Buccaneers by claiming their big bucks will have no bearing on Thursday’s meeting at Wimborne Road.

The Buccaneers, who have been formed this year as a feeder side for Poole Pirates, are seen by many as the favourites to lift the title but Bartlett is not fazed by the Elite League club’s huge reputation and is adamant his men are ready for battle.

He said: “The lads are very much looking forward to it. It is a big local derby and I am sure the lads will rise to the occasion.

“Poole will be at their strongest, particularly with Danny Warwick having come in for Luke Priest, but we certainly have nothing to fear.

“We have enough talent in our squad to go there and pick up points, and even though we have never raced at Poole as a team before, we do have experience of the track with Mark Burrows and Lee Smart having both ridden it in the past.

“There has been some banter from their end saying they are a proper club and that they are going to trash us but we just have to take no notice of that rubbish. “Yes, they are one of the most successful Elite League clubs ever and can pay big money and have a big stadium but that does not mean we are by any means the underdogs.

“We have proven we can go to any track and score well, and we have just got to go there on Thursday and do our best. It is going to be difficult to win but I am confident we won’t disgrace ourselves either.”

The Wildcats won the Conference League title in 2008 and Bartlett is fully expecting to be in the play-off shake-up again this year.

He added: “I think the league will be between us and Bournemouth in the end, so Thursday night will be a good test of the lads to see what they could potentially come up against in the play-offs.

“I certainly see no reason why we should not be in that top four, and it would certainly be nice to see it all come down to a Weymouth and Bournemouth final. That would be fantastic.”

Warwick will not be the only ex-Wildcats in the Poole line-up as Jay Herne and Kyle Newman will also be looking to impress against their former side.

But Bartlett is not interested in former allegiances. He said: “Jay, Kyle and Danny have all ridden for us before so we know how they work.

“Danny has been off form in the Premier League with Berwick but make no mistakes he will get loads of points at Poole.

“It will be good to see some of those lads off the track but on it there won’t be any friends and no prisoners will be taken by either side.”

The Wildcats will also be in action this Friday against Buxton at the Wessex Bus Raceway (7.15pm).

* WESSEX Bus is putting on two coaches for this Thursday’s trip to Poole.

They will leave the Wessex Bus Raceway at 5.30pm and the cost for a return ticket is £5. The 60 seats will be filled on a first-come-first-serve basis.