RISS: TOP FOUR THE TARGET

ERIK Riss is hoping to fire Ipswich back into the Sports Insure Premiership play-off picture with his worrying illness now behind him.

Riss spent over two months on the sidelines having been diagnosed with intracranial hypertension, a build-up of pressure around the brain, after just a few weeks of the new season. He required three lumbar punctures and much medication to alleviate the problem.

The German now has a vital part to play as the Witches look to climb back into the top four, with a vital match to come at home to Wolverhampton on Thursday.

Riss said: “The worst thing as a speedway rider is having to watch others ride. When you have an injury like a break, like I did with my leg last season, there is no doubt you can’t ride.

“But when you had the condition I had, you sit at home thinking, maybe I could ride, maybe it would work. But every time I did a bit of exercise, I felt dizzy and knew it wasn’t right.

“I still feel I’m at the start of the season. Before I was out, I’d only done three meetings. I’m still catching up on engine set-ups. But, yes, the goal is the play-offs for me and the team. And we can do it.”