PREVIEW: PETERBOROUGH v IPSWICH (Prem)

PETERBOROUGH face Ipswich in a bottom versus top Premiership clash at the East of England Arena tonight (Monday).

The Witches are still favourites to finish first in the regular standings and a fifth away win of the season would solidify that position – but they did suffer a 50-39 defeat on their last trip to Alwalton.

The injury-hit Panthers bring in Josh Pickering and Simon Lambert to guest for Michael Palm Toft and Ulrich Ostergaard, with rider replacement in operation for Hans Andersen.

Danyon Hume misses out for the Witches with a broken collarbone, with fellow Rising Star Anders Rowe stepping in at reserve.

Panthers skipper Scott Nicholls said: “It has been a stinker of a season for the team and I have had a really tough year too.

“I was not 100 per cent happy (at King’s Lynn last Thursday) but I did feel like I had found something a bit better, bits were still missing but it was a step in the right direction.

“For the team to battle back like that, it was a boost and will stand us in good stead for Ipswich. We will go into it with a positive frame of mind.”

Witches boss Ritchie Hawkins said: “We have said as a team we would like to finish top of the league. It has been a little goal we have had over the last few months, and if we are to achieve that we will need to win at Peterborough. It would be great to finish top before the play-offs.

“They have had a poor year but still have a very capable side with many members of their league winning team.
“They have been hit by a lot of injuries and problems this year but on the night, they can certainly be a good team. Our previous meetings with them this year show that.”

PETERBOROUGH: Chris Harris, Simon Lambert, Hans Andersen R/R, Ben Basso, Josh Pickering, Scott Nicholls, Jordan Jenkins.
IPSWICH: Jason Doyle, Aaron Summers, Troy Batchelor, Rohan Tungate, Danny King, Paul Starke, Anders Rowe.