Ford tips Eklof to star in grand final (From This Is Wiltshire)

MATT Ford is hoping late selection Linus Eklof will find conditions to his liking as he bids to become Pirates’ surprise grand final hero.

The 23-year-old reserve had expected to follow Poole’s Elite League title bid from his Swedish base before receiving a call from promoter Ford.

Eklof, who shares a doubling-up berth with Kyle Howarth, will face Swindon as Howarth has Premier League commitments with Workington.

Together with Swedish compatriots Ricky Kling and Ludvig Lindgren, Eklof is tasked with providing vital support to Poole's big-scoring top three.

Pirates chief Ford is confident his team will not be disadvantaged by having to make the enforced change following Wednesday’s postponement.

“Linus is flying in and he has to borrow a van to go to Leicester and pick up his equipment.

“But he will be ready in time,” he said. “I don’t think it makes a lot of difference. If the track is in a good state and not too wet, I think Linus will put on a good show and try his hardest.

“If it is a wet track, it is not necessarily something he likes and I think he doesn’t perform as well on a wet track, as many people will remember from his first meeting at Swindon when he really struggled in those types of conditions.

“As long as we can get the fixture on and the track is in a good condition, I think there is no disadvantage at all.”

Some Pirates fans were hoping the delay in staging the grand final second leg would allow Piotr Pawlicki to recover from his shoulder injury.

“But Ford was quick to dismiss those suggestions.

He added: “I don’t know why people are keeping on about the same subject. He is out for the season - he is done.”