SWINDON Robins will be hoping to be at the front of the queue to land Darcy Ward if he decides to make a return to British speedway according to promoter Colin Pratt.

The Robins’ number one rider Adrian Miedzinski is still absent for meetings in the UK following his opening day hand injury against Poole Pirates, while stand-in Peter Kildemand has completed his short stay, meaning Swindon are desperate to fill the gap at the top of the order.

Pirates asset Ward will be eligible to ride back in the Elite League from Saturday and, after Poole promoter Matt Ford hinted last month that the Aussie rider could be loaned out for the rest of the season, Swindon appear to see him as an option to fill their void.

However, Swindon are not the only club looking to secure the services of the 23-year-old and Pratt says that the Robins will have to keep their finger on the pulse to secure his services should he return to Britain this season.

“We’re looking into the number one situation at the moment,” said Pratt, who indicated there would have to be two changes made to the team if Ward was to ride for Swindon.

“The only name that keeps coming up at the moment is Darcy Ward.

“If it was him, depending on what his averages come up with, I think Rosco (Alun Rossiter) is working at the moment on the averages and sometimes it is rumoured that you have to take two out to get two in.

“I think there are two or three clubs that are looking into him and whether they can fit him in or not, but at the moment it is just talking to Rosco.

“We just have to make sure we keep our ear to the ground and make sure we are first in line if something comes up that we reckon is a benefit to Swindon.”

Ward was banned for 10 months after failing an alcohol test at the Latvian GP last summer, however, the Aussie has yet to commit himself to appearing in the Elite League this campaign after tweeting earlier this month “I never said I was riding in UK this year. In 2016 I will be a Pirate.”

Despite the uncertainty surrounding the number one position, which was filled by Nick Morris during Swindon’s 14-point defeat to Belle Vue Aces in their last meeting, Pratt has been impressed by the way the team have coped with a difficult start.

“It has been a fantastic start to the season for Nick Morris and Kyle Howarth,” he added.

“Lewis Rose and Charles Wright seem to be piecing things together now and Zengota is a bit of a revelation.

“I think eventually we have sorted it out.”