BIRMINGHAM’S impressive display at Poole on Wednesday night has served as a further reminder to Robins boss Alun Rossiter that you can never take the opposition lightly.

Having endured a nightmare start to the season, rock bottom Birmingham led the Pirates for much of the meeting before eventually falling to a 48-42 defeat.

While Rossiter is never one to need reminding of the problems caused by taking your foot off the gas against perceived weaker sides the Swindon boss, whose team sits just one place and three points above tonight’s opponents, will send his side out with strict instructions to bring home all-three Elite League points.

“You take everyone seriously because if you don’t then you can be in a lot of trouble,” he said.

“I doubt Poole took them lightly, although maybe they did because that is what can happen if you do.

“Birmingham were winning but the Poole big hitters came in at the end, as they usually do, and pulled them out of it.

“They have some good riders in there and they can be dangerous.

“We will be going out there and giving it everything and the form of Peter (Kildemand), Troy (Batchelor) and Nick (Morris) is good and Simon Gustafsson is on his new engine.

“Simon’s issues have been engine related and not through any lack of motivation or willingness to get stuck in so I’m not too worried about him at this point in time.

“Three points in the bag would get us going again.”

Rossiter’s side will be up against Brummies skipper Danny King this evening who is likely to be involved in the Swindon boss’ Great Britain sides over the summer, but the team manager isn’t expecting any extra effort from the heat leader just because he’s up against the national team boss.

“Danny is a good rider but he seems to be struggling a little bit at the moment, like most of the British riders do to be honest,” he said.

“That’s a bit of a worry at the moment but there is still plenty of time to go for them to get things right for the World Cup.

“I always believe that riders shouldn’t be having to raise their game just because the British boss is there as they should be trying their best all the time.”

With admission prices slashed to £10 for adults, Rossiter is hopeful of a big crowd this evening.

“We are hoping for a really good meeting and a great crowd too because that really helps the boys on the track,” he said.

“We’re trying to do the right things to help and it would be great to see the sun shining and plenty of people enjoying themselves.”

Meanwhile, the Robins have had their Elite League visit to Birmingham in June brought forward so that the fixture will be shown live on Sky Sports.

The meeting was originally scheduled for Wednesday June 18, but will now take place at Perry Barr on Monday June 2 (7.30pm).