PREVIEW: EDINBURGH v WORKINGTON (MAXICAB KO CUP)

EDINBURGH host Workington in the re-arranged first leg of their MAXiCab KO Cup first round tie tonight (Friday) with the sides set for a busy weekend.

The Monarchs will be looking to build a lead at Armadale with the return fixture at the GT Tyres Arena taking place on Saturday afternoon.

Edinburgh operate rider replacement for Oskar Polis, who quit the club last weekend, whilst Mark Parker is promoted from their WSRA NDL team to take the vacant No.7 berth alongside free-scoring Victor Palovaara.

Monarchs boss Alex Harkess said: “I expect to see the best of everyone in the two matches with Workington.

“I’ve always said that we should not be depending on Victor’s seven rides. That’s not how the team is going to win.

“It’s important to take a lead on Friday; I’m sure we can do very well down there, but let’s make it easier with a good lead.”

Comets manager James Denham said: “It’s going to be tough at Armadale, Tate (Zischke) didn’t manage to get there last year before his injury and Fraser (Bowes) hasn’t seen the place before – but Troy (Batchelor) was on fantastic form their last year when we had a depleted team and we have riders like Jye (Etheridge) and Jacob (Hook) who have ridden for Edinburgh in the past and go well there.

“Edinburgh have had some setbacks this week, namely the withdrawal of Polis from their team, and we need to capitalise on that on Friday I believe.

“We are obviously going there to win as always but we ultimately need to keep the score as close as possible for the home leg on Saturday, where I believe we are capable of putting our early season woes behind us.”

EDINBURGH: Justin Sedgmen, Oskar Polis r/r, Jonatan Grahn, Kye Thomson, Paco Castagna, Victor Palovaara, Mark Parker.

WORKINGTON: Troy Batchelor, Jye Etheridge, Tate Zischke, Fraser Bowes, Antti Vuolas, Jacob Hook, Vinnie Foord.

SCB Referee: Willie Dishington

*LIVE STREAMING: https://www.edinburghmonarchs.co.uk/emtv