SWINDON Robins boss Alun Rossiter has settled on his riding order for the start of the season but admitted he expects it to change during the early weeks of the season.

The Robins host Poole tomorrow night in a season-opening Elite Shield first leg and will do so with three riders returning from last season’s team that suffered a heartbreaking play-off semi-final loss to the Pirates.

The trio of Troy Batchelor, Peter Kildemand and Nick Morris fill the three heatleader positions and, although he doesn’t have to under the sport’s latest set of rules, Rossiter has selected his highest averaged rider, Kildemand, and number one.

Captain Batchelor will ride at three with Morris, who is a heat leader at Elite League level for the first time in his career, at five.

Nicolai Klindt will ride at two with Swede Simon Gustafsson at number four. Darryl Ritchings goes at number six while Steve Worrall will go at seven.

“Looking at the new race format I think one and three are the strongest positions, but I’m still learning about the new format,” Rossiter said.

“I’m sure it will chop and change a bit and people can swap round. We spoke about things at press and practice and this is how we decided to start out.”

The Robins face a Poole side boasting 2012 world champion Chris Holder, who will ride for them in the meeting in place of Darcy Ward who has prior commitments.

Pirates promoter Matt Ford said: “Chris feels he needs the track time to be ready for the New Zealand Grand Prix, so as it’s early in the season we can get him on the track without it causing any problem.”