Pete Simmons says the Witches need to be fast away from the gates if they are to beat Poole

Ipswich Witches manager Pete Simmons believes his team can reach the Elite League final despite being underdogs to beat Poole in Monday's semi-final.

The Pirates lost only twice at home in the league, once to Ipswich, and Simmons is hoping for cloudy weather.

He told BBC Radio Suffolk: "You never know what track conditions are going to be down at their place.

If there's a bit of damp in the air, a wet track, it could even things up quite a bit."

We'll be going out and out for that win Pete Simmons

Simmons has warned his riders they will need to gate well if they are to stand a chance of winning at Wimborne Road.

He said: "It is a fast track and they (Poole) are obviously dialled in and experts on their own circuit but I'm not going there with any worries really.

We're going to put on a good show for the TV cameras and obviously for the public and we'll be going out and out for that win."

It is Ipswich's first appearance in the Elite League play-offs since 2004.

The winners will meet either Lakeside Hammers or Swindon Robins in the other semi-final which will be run simultaneously on Monday evening.