SWINDON’S season-long battle with Poole Pirates finally comes to a head at Wimborne Road tonight with the Elite League Grand Final second leg (7.30).

Robins will need to defend a seven-point lead if they are to take their first ever Elite League title - and boss Alun Rossiter believes his side should have had a greater advantage following their 51-44 win at the Abbey on Monday.

He said: “The points are coming from everywhere which is pleasing but we made too many costly mistakes and we should have been 10 or 12 up to be fair.

“Conceding the tactical rides was a little frustrating but we know that it's there and it works both ways so we can't complain.”

However, having run Poole extremely close on two occasions this year down in Dorset, Rossiter is still confident his side can get the job done.

He added: “We only lost by eight down there last time so it's definitely do-able.

“If the boys are hungry enough then they definitely will do it.”

Swindon are without former Pirates man Jason Doyle after his season-ending neck injury at Sheffield on Sunday, and doubling-up partner Sebastian Alden again comes in to replace him.

Track covers have been laid on the Poole circuit ahead of the final.

Poole boss Matt Ford said: "I need to reassure speedway fans that we are doing everything we can to protect the track from any wet weather before Wednesday's main event."

POOLE: Darcy Ward, Ricky Kling, Chris Holder, Piotr Pawlicki R/R, Krzysztof Kasprzak, Ludvig Lindgren, Kyle Howarth.

SWINDON: Hans Andersen, Nick Morris, Peter Kildemand, Simon Stead, Troy Batchelor, Sebastian Alden, Dawid Lampart.

FINAL SECOND LEG REPORT & REACTION TOMORROW AT GAZETTEANDHERALD.CO.UK/SPORT AND MORE SPORTS NEWS & PICTURES IN THURSDAY'S GAZETTE & HERALD