SWINDON Robins team manager Alun Rossiter does not consider Poole Pirates as the easy option after picking them in the semi-finals of the play-offs.

The Robins will head to Wimborne Road next Monday in the first-leg as they look to turn a top of the league finish into a first title since 2012.

However, despite Poole making a late charge into the top four spots, only securing their place last week, Rossiter is not underestimating them, having suffered a second defeat on the bounce as they fell to Wolverhampton Wolves last night, and says it was the decision of his riders to face them first up.

“It’s disappointing to have two defeats heading into the play-offs but, in the play-offs, we start again and I am sure the boys will be fired up for the semi-finals,” he said.

“I asked the boys what they wanted to do when it came to our opponents in the semi-finals.

“I am sure everybody else will be thinking that we think Poole are the weakest, we don’t think that at all, we respect any of our opponents.

“We know anything can happen in the play-offs but we just felt we would be a little bit more comfortable down at Poole.

“We are going to have to be confident to go there. We are going to have to go with a better mindset and make sure we are ready to do the job.”

The form of Frenchman David Bellego has been a concern of late, scoring just three points last night, having taken the league by storm with his performances this term, becoming a Swindon asset in the process.

However, Rossiter is confident that Bellego will be back to his usual form next week having sorted out his engine issues.

“David has been a bit of a worry but I hope to think, his last race, where he improved, he is back to his old self,” he added.

“He said to me that he is raring to go for Monday.

“He is just getting back into the swing now he has his engine sorted.

“He’s only ridden (at Wolves) a handful of times and it’s the first time he has ridden it this year in more than three years, so he hasn’t had a lot of time around it.

“It’s a difficult one, but I’m sure, come the final, should we get to the final, it will be a different kettle of fish.”

Rossiter will also be hoping to have Bradley Wilson-Dean back from his wrist injury, but could provide no update, with Mitchell Davey, who scored one point last night, set to step in for the injured Zach Watjknecht.

“We need Bradley back and I’ve given Mitchell as much time as he can to get adapted to the Elite League,” said Rossiter.

“Hopefully he can pull it out of the bag. He got going in one race (last night), he was just unfortunate his mud flap came off when he was in a good position.”