Swan Yamaha's Michael Laverty says he is safe in the Showdown phase of this year's British Superbike Championship title fight save for any major disasters that may befall him during this weekend's Cadwell Park triple-header.

The Irishman is sitting in fourth place and a full 28 points ahead of sixth-placed man Ryuichi Kiyonari but he has only four podium credits whereas team-mate Tommy Hill leads that table with 21 so Laverty needs some rostrum results to make up some places.

“I see my place as quite safe really barring any major disasters in the three races this weekend. I need to be in the Showdown and I think we can have a strong round at Cadwell Park and hopefully we can claw back some of those podium credits we have missed out on at the last few rounds," said the Toomebridge man.

"We need to approach the weekend as one big test ahead of the Showdown and finding that minuscule one or two percent gap to the front three that we were missing at Brands Hatch. It isn’t a lot but it will make all the difference in being able to challenge them for the victories.

"We are in with a shot of the race wins and I want to get the Swan Yamaha back on the podium before the Showdown as those extra credits could prove vital at the end of the season."