SWINDON Robins skipper Jason Doyle reckons that defending champions Poole Pirates will be just as formidable as ever despite their new-look line-up for the new Elite League season.

Alun Rossiter’s Swindon side begin the 2016 season with a trip to the Pirates’ Wimborne Road home today, although they take on a Poole side that looks vastly different to the one that won the title back in September.

Much like the Robins, Pirates boss Neil Middleditch and promoter Matt Ford have chopped and changed their roster this year and only Davey Watt, Chris Holder and Kyle Newman remain from the septet that beat Belle Vue Aces in the 2015 final.

The bookmakers still make the Pirates big favourites to win a fourth straight title and Doyle is in agreement that they will be as strong as ever.

And the Australian, who will ride at number one for Swindon after switching from Leicester Lions for this season, says going against the reigning kings of British speedway first up is the perfect way for the Robins to gauge where they stand.

“It’s a good one to start off the season with. To go to Poole on a Bank Holiday Friday is an exciting way to get going,” said Doyle.

“I think, like Rosco has said already, we need to know where we are at and that’s a great test for the team.

“It’s another strong Poole team, as Matt Ford does every year. He puts a competitive team together and I think they are going to be up there at the business end of the season but I also think we are too.”

Doyle and the rest of the Robins roster have to wait until Sunday to get his first taste of competitive racing at home when Poole make a return trip to Wiltshire.

The 30-year-old has plenty of experience at the Abbey Stadium track and was part of the Swindon side that won the Elite League title in 2012, the only team to break the Pirates’ stranglehold on the trophy in the last five years.

“I’ve rode Swindon many times. I was racing here in 2012, plus also doing a few guest bookings for Swindon in the last couple of seasons,” added Doyle.

“I love racing the Swindon track, it’s a fast track, it’s an enjoyable track and there’s a lot of passing, it’s not like Leicester where it’s mainly gate and go. It’s going to put some good racing on this year.”