Cook's side finished level on points with top-placed Poole Pirates

Lakeside Hammers co-promoter Jon Cook cannot wait for their Elite League play-off semi-finals with Swindon.

The two sides meet at the Arena Essex Raceway on Monday for the Hammers' first ever play-off appearance.

Cook told BBC Essex: "We can't wait for the meeting, it's such a huge day in the history of speedway in Essex and everything we've set out to achieve.

"It wouldn't have mattered who the opposition was, but I think on paper we have probably got the team we wanted."

The Hammers finished second in the Elite League table, level on points with Poole Pirates, and will face the team who finished third for a place in the play-off final.

Cook admitted he felt happier to be facing the Robins as opposed to the other play-off side, Ipswich Witches.

Riders like Leigh Lanham, Andreas Jonsson and Ricky Kling have really taken it upon themselves to welcome whoever we've used over the last six weeks Lakeside Hammers co-promoter Jon Cook

"Swindon are probably more vulnerable as a team than Ipswich," he said.

"Ipswich look a bit of a stronger unit and with our injury problems we're looking to face a team that hopefully gives us an easier passage into the final."

Late-season injuries mean the Hammers head into the meeting with just three of the side that started the year.

However, Cook is confident the riders he has available to him are capable of doing the job.

"It may seem a strange thing to say, and it's certainly not a criticism of the riders that aren't with us any more because they are great guys, but the spirit within the camp has actually grown through the absences," he explained.

"Riders like Leigh [Lanham], Andreas Jonsson and Ricky Kling have really taken it upon themselves to welcome whoever we've used over the last six weeks."

But rather than concentrate on stifling the Australian, Cook has got other plans for his riders.

"There's no point in targeting Leigh Adams, so I've moved Andreas Jonsson to number three so he only races Leigh twice rather than three times," he said.

"What that means is that we're going to basically let Leigh do his stuff and we're going to concentrate on beating his team-mates."