PREVIEW: SCUNTHORPE v BERWICK (CAB DIRECT KO CUP)

SCUNTHORPE have no room for error as they bid to maintain their grip on the Cab Direct KO Cup as they face an 18-point deficit at home to Berwick tonight (Friday).

The defending holders were beaten 54-36 at Shielfield Park in the first leg, but they did hit 61 points at home in their opening round win over Plymouth.

Both sides are at full strength with Berwick welcoming back No.1 Lewis Kerr after just over a month out with a fractured ankle.

Kerr passed an intensive fitness test at Oxford on Wednesday, and will look to see the visitors into a semi-final against Poole.

Scunthorpe promoter Rob Godfrey said: “Our reign as holders of the Cab Direct Knockout Cup is on the line and we know that we must score at least 55 points to progress into the semi-finals.

“It is achievable but it certainly isn’t going to be easy against a good Berwick team and there’s not a lot of margin for error.

“I think it will be exciting, nerve-racking, the fingernails will be going down to the bone, but we need to hit them early.”

Berwick boss Stewart Dickson said: “The first four races are so important. We know that Scunthorpe are very, very good around the Eddie Wright Raceway and, speaking to Rob this week, they fancy their chances.

“We need to be on our A-game, not just in the early heats but through all 15. We want to be in (the semis) alongside Oxford, Poole and Redcar but there are only seven riders who can make that happen.”

SCUNTHORPE: Kyle Howarth, Connor Mountain, Simon Lambert, Jake Allen, Michael Palm Toft, Nathan Ablitt, Luke Harrison.
BERWICK: Lewis Kerr, Drew Kemp, Jye Etheridge, Danyon Hume, Rory Schlein, Freddy Hodder, Bastian Borke.
SCB Referee: Wayne Jarvis

*LIVE STREAMING: https://tv.scunthorpe-speedway.com/