Workington Comets reserve Paul Starke will get the inside view of Saturday’s opponents Poole Pirates when he rides for them tonight.
For Starke is in the strange position of racing for a team and then less than 24 hours later he will be riding against them.
The Comets face the Pirates at Northside tomorrow in the second leg of the BSN Series Knockout Cup and have to turn round a 28-points deficit to make the final.
Starke, who replaced German Celia Liebmann in the Comets team at the end of July, guests for Poole at Edinburgh tonight as Vinnie Foord is not yet fit to return from a shoulder injury.
Poole could secure top spot in the Cab Direct Championship with a win at Edinburgh. They are six points ahead of Oxford as they head into their final regular fixture, with the Cheetahs also in action at Scunthorpe with three matches to go.
Starke will be up against his Workington team-mate Troy Batchelor as the Monarchs are without injured duo Justin Sedgmen and Kye Thomson. They have Batchelor and Drew Kemp booked to guest as they look to move off the bottom of the table.
Poole promoter Dan Ford said: “As we head north, the fixture against Edinburgh is absolutely pivotal.
“A win is essential to keep the pressure on Oxford as we fight for that all-important top spot in the league standings. We can’t afford any more slip-ups.”
Batchelor is being kept busy ahead of Saturday’s match at Northside as he was a guest for Ipswich Witches last night – and top-scored with nine and two bonus points.
The injury-hit Witches were beaten at home 46-44 by Birmingham who are putting in a big finish to their first season back in the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership.
Swedish star Fredrik Lindgren scored a 15-point maximum and with GB ace Tom Brennan (14+3) also in great form, the two combined for crucial 5-1s in Heats 13 and 15 to give the Brummies a maximum five league points from their last matches of the season against the Witches.
Workington’s young Finnish prospect Antti Vuolas guested for the Brummies in the tough number three slot and only picked up a point and a bonus from his fifth and final ride.
For the injury-hit hosts it was a sixth successive defeat and not the outcome they were seeking ahead of the Cup Final and play-offs.
Comets skipper Craig Cook scored four points as Leicester Lions stayed in the fight to finish top of the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership after racing to a 50-40 win at Oxford.
Cook won the reserves race but had a retirement, last and third in his subsequent races.
Fellow west Cumbrian Richard Lawson scored six and two bonus points while former Comet Charles Wright picked up nine points for the Spires.
Meanwhile the Comets have announced that they will try and race their outstanding Championship match with Plymouth Gladiators at Northside next Saturday, September 7. It has been postponed twice previously.
