Ipswich Witches entertain their Norfolk rivals King's Lynn tonight in what is sure to be a grudge return clash. MIKE BACON takes a look, with Witches hit by another injury last night as young Aussie Jordan Stewart suffered multiple injuries.
WALK THE WALK
There was plenty of 'trash talk' ahead of the opening fixture of the season when the Witches headed to the Norfolk Arena last month, with both sides bigging it up they would win.
However, it was the Witches who came out on top, and very easily in the end.
There is no way Lynn are going to want a repeat of that night, or last week's big home defeat to Wolverhampton.
DRASTIC CHANGES
Lynn parted company with their No.1 Craig Cook after just two meetings last week!
The Cumbrian-born racer scored just a couple of points against Wolves in a huge home loss and the two parties went their own ways in what was an extraordinary turn of events.
So, a familiar face to Foxhall fans, Richard Lawson, is now in the Lynn starting septet, replacing Cook, with Erik Riss going into the No.1 position.
INJURIES WOES
Jason Crump had an horrendous crash at Wolverhampton on Monday night for the Witches and is out for at least two to three weeks with seven broken ribs.
It is a big blow for the Suffolk side as Crump top-scored for the team at home to Sheffield last Thursday night.
However, there is a popular and very adequate replacement at No.1 for Ipswich tonight in Scott Nicholls, the Ipswich-born racer is always good value and has made a decent start to 2021.
To make matters worse for the Witches, Jordan Stewart crashed out at Birmingham last night while riding for his Championship club Redcar, suffering a broken collarbone, dislocated shoulder and broken ribs
He will be out for some time, the young Aussie already having had to wait for a visa while the season got underway. Rider replacement will be used for him this evening.
Lynn are also without a rider, Lewis Bridger has been ruled out and they will also use rider replacement.
TEENAGE STARLETS
Ipswich have two of the country's brightest young riders at reserve, in Drew Kemp (18) and Anders Rowe (19).
And both have already shown their qualities in the four meetings the Witches have ridden so far, Rowe top-scoring in two of them, while Kemp was one of the best Witches on show at Wolverhampton on Monday night, in what was otherwise a very disappointing evening for the Suffolk side.
BOUNCE BACK
In a six-strong Premiership, with four teams going into the play-offs, it's absolutely crucial teams win their home meetings.
Already this season Peterborough (once) and King's Lynn (twice) have lost at home, while both Belle Vue and Ipswich have drawn at home.
If you want to be in the mix come September you can't afford to drop many home points. The Witches badly need to win this one tonight and to bounce back from their hapless 28-62 defeat at Wolves on Monday.
TEAMS
IPSWICH: 1. Scott Nicholls (g) 8.00 2. R/R 4.00 3. Cameron Heeps 6.17 4. Jake Allen 5.70 5. Danny King 6.85 © 6. Anders Rowe 3.00 7. Drew Kemp (RS). Team Manager: Ritchie Hawkins.
KING’S LYNN: 1. Erik Riss 6.65 2. R/R 4.28 3. Thomas Jorgensen 6.18 4. Lewis Kerr 5.53 © 5. Richard Lawson 5.64 6. Ryan Kinsley (RS) 7. Ty Proctor 4.20. Team Manager: Peter Schroek.
TICKETS
Tickets are available to buy online (until 12pm today) and on the gate and are priced at £19 for adults, £17 for concessions (65+), £5 for students (16-17). Children 15 and under go free. Official programmes are priced at £3 and are available to order online with your tickets and at the stadium. Car parking is free.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here