POOLE Pirates have confirmed the duo they intend to send to the SGB Championship Pairs competition later this month.

All nine second-tier clubs will feature in the competition at Oxford’s Cowley Stadium on Friday, August 16 (7.30pm).

Glasgow Tigers are the reigning champions, having claimed the title with Chris Harris and Benjamin Basso last year.

Harris will again lead the Tigers charge, where he will this time hope to be joined by former Pirates captain Steve Worrall, providing he has recovered from illness.

Poole’s hopes lie in the hands of Richard Lawson and skipper Ben Cook, who also competed for the club in 2023. They last year finished a disappointing fourth, before losing to Redcar Bears in the semi-final.

Hosts Oxford will be represented by experienced duo Scott Nicholls and Sam Masters, while the star-studded field also includes Troy Batchelor, Danny King, Charles Wright and Josh Pickering.

Full provisional line-up - Berwick: Lewis Kerr and Drew Kemp, Edinburgh: Josh Pickering and Justin Sedgmen, Glasgow: Chris Harris and Steve Worrall, Oxford: Scott Nicholls and Sam Masters, Plymouth: Ben Barker and Dan Thompson, Poole: Richard Lawson and Ben Cook, Redcar: Charles Wright and Danny King, Scunthorpe: Michael Palm Toft and Kyle Howarth, Workington: Troy Batchelor and Craig Cook.