PREVIEW: IPSWICH v OXFORD (ROWE MOTOR OIL PREM)

ROWE Motor Oil Premiership leaders Ipswich race their match in hand on Belle Vue when they take on Oxford at Foxhall tonight (Thursday).

The Witches are a point clear having won a Super Heat after a 45-45 draw in Manchester on Monday, and they can extend that advantage with victory over the Spires in the evening’s only top-flight fixture.

They name an unchanged one-to-seven in terms of personnel, but Adam Ellis switches to No.2 with skipper Danny King joining Tom Brennan in the middle order.

The Spires have declared Victor Palovaara as a new signing to replace Craig Cook, but he misses out due to illness and the visitors call up Mitch McDiarmid from their Championship side to guest.

In addition, Oxford track Richard Lawson in place of long-term absentee Erik Riss, whilst Rohan Tungate has a shoulder injury and is covered by rider replacement.

Ipswich boss Ritchie Hawkins said: “Oxford have had a tough year, and we will go into the meeting similar to the last home meeting against Birmingham where we are expected to win and win comfortably.

“It is the same situation for us; we know from the King’s Lynn Cup meeting that we cannot let standards slip.

“We put on a brilliant show at Belle Vue on Monday and want to keep this momentum going and enjoy our racing. That is our aim on Thursday.”

IPSWICH: Jason Doyle, Adam Ellis, Danny King, Tom Brennan, Emil Sayfutdinov, Dan Thompson, Jason Edwards.

OXFORD: Charles Wright, Richard Lawson, Rohan Tungate R/R, Mitch McDiarmid, Maciej Janowski, Peter Kildemand, Luke Killeen.

SCB Referee: Mick Bates

*LIVE STREAMING: https://watch.britishspeedway.co.uk