Newcomers Northampton race their first meeting since joining the Premiership as they visit King’s Lynn in the KO Cup tonight with strong Workington interest.
Comets skipper Troy Batchelor will be in action for the Foxes, who also include former Workington riders Nicolai Klindt and Luke Harrison.
The Foxes also kick off their campaign at the Adrian Flux Arena with several former Stars riders in their ranks, although they are missing Niels-Kristian Iversen due to injury.
Iversen’s absence is covered by rider replacement while elsewhere in the team Klindt, Batchelor, Kye Thomson and Harrison have all represented Lynn in the past.
Riding at reserve for King’s Lynn is teenager Cooper Rushen who proved such an able guest for the Comets on Saturday when they beat Scunthorpe 49-41.
The home side are looking to bounce back from home and away defeats to Ipswich in their opening KO Cup fixtures, and they name an unchanged line-up.
Stars boss Rob Lyon said: “There were things to work on last week, and I just hope the boys can turn it around ready for the league, and I’m sure they will do that.
“The KO Cup is still up for grabs because both ourselves and Ipswich still have to go to Northampton, which will be something of an unknown for everyone.
“But we need to get a home win first on Monday and then hopefully we can kick on from that.”
Foxes manager Chris Adams said: “It does feel strange not to have had the usual pre-season preparations, but I’ve spoken to every rider in the team individually, and they all know what my expectations of them are and what I expect from the first meeting.
“It’s going to be difficult because having the lads together for a press and practice where you can all bond and practice together is something that we’re missing, so that may play a tiny part as this is our first time together.
“But the lads are eager to get going. They know it’s an official meeting, they are all prepared for it, and we’ll have to see what tonight brings.”
- King’s Lynn: Max Fricke, Paco Castagna, Chris Harris, Ben Cook, Jan Kvech, Cooper Rushen, Jody Scott.
- Northampton: Jaimon Lidsey, Troy Batchelor, Matej Zagar, Niels-Kristian Iversen R/R, Nicolai Klindt, Kye Thomson, Luke Harrison.
