NEIL Middleditch admitted he would gladly sacrifice all of Pirates' Elite League titles to see Darcy Ward back on a bike.

The team boss last week led Poole to their seventh top-flight success in 13 seasons, the Dorset side earning an unprecedented third straight top-flight crown in the process.

And while hugely proud of that achievement, Middleditch knows it pales into insignificance compared to the positive impact that tonight's Wimborne Road fundraiser could have on Ward, who sustained serious spinal injuries in August.

Middleditch told the Daily Echo: "This meeting is more important than the grand final.

"That was a fantastic night and it was a fantastic achievement for us to win it but now we're talking about helping Darcy for the rest of his life and you can't put any more importance on it than that.

"We don't know what the future holds for him but at this moment in time I would give up all our grand final wins to see him back on a bike again.

"Anybody who has ever seen Darcy ride knows what a spectacular rider he was and he deserves everything that people are doing for him.

"The Poole fans are, in my opinion, the best and most generous supporters in the country and I'm sure they will turn out in droves.

"It's a different occasion to the grand final but I would like to think that we would get a similar sort of crowd."

Ward revealed on Monday his intention to attend tonight's meeting (7.30pm), set to be the Queenslander's first public appearance at Wimborne Road since he sustained serious injuries in Poland.

Middleditch said: "I hope the trip won't be too much for him because it's a fair journey from where he is but, hopefully, he will have some medical support.

"If he wants to come down and feels he's up to it and the doctors say it's okay then I'm fine with that."

The team boss added: "So many top riders have, at their own expense, got over to the UK with their equipment and are ready to race.

"The reason why so many of them have given up their time is to come and support Darcy because of the esteem they hold him in.

"It's not going to be about the racing, it's going to be about Darcy. I know the boys will race and give 100 per cent but it's about making this night special for Darcy and helping him in the future."

Team Magic: (from) Maciej Janowski, Davey Watt, Patryk Dudek, Shamek Pawlicki, Andreas Jonsson, Dakota North, Josh Grajczonek.

Team Monster: (from) Chris Holder, Nick Morris, Troy Batchelor, Bjarne Pedersen, Greg Hancock, Brady Kurtz, Jack Holder.