Stars out to dent play-off ambitions of East Anglian rivals

King’s Lynn look to put a big dent in rivals Ipswich’s play-off ambitions when the sides meet in the Sports Insure Premiership at the Adrian Flux Arena tomorrow (7.30pm).

The Witches have seen their hopes boosted by a surprise win at Leicester on Monday, and further success over the Stars and then Peterborough over the coming days could tighten up the scrap for a top four finish.

Unfortunately those aspirations are now effectively beyond the MacInnes Stars but local derbies are always keenly contested and there is plenty of incentive to gain a win over the Foxhall side.

It’s the Witches’ first visit to Norfolk of the season, and with boss Ritchie Hawkins stating, “I don’t think they (King’s Lynn) will be as determined as we will be,” the Stars will be keen to put on a good show and disprove that theory.

And there’s a massive clash of the respective No.1s as Artem Laguta returns to the Stars team and faces fellow countryman Emil Sayfutdinov, with the two having combined for FIM Speedway of Nations glory in the past.

Sayfutdinov made his first-ever league appearance in the UK at the AFA back in 2011 when he was racing for Coventry, twice hitting double figure scores around the circuit in that season – and as he is backed up by former World Champion Jason Doyle, it gives the Witches an awesome spearhead.

The Stars bring in Peterborough’s Benjamin Basso, who rode well for his regular club last week, to guest for the injured Michael Palm Toft.

Meanwhile it will be rider replacement for the unlucky Thomas Jorgensen, whose season is over due to back and neck injuries sustained in a crash at Edinburgh last Friday.

Jorgensen has been fitted with a neck brace and harness and has been able to walk around his hospital ward, with the hope that he will be able to return home this week.

Elsewhere, recent signing Emil Breum switches to No.4, whilst reserves Simon Lambert and Anders Rowe have a key part to play against Danyon Hume and Dan Thompson – the latter having starred at his former club Leicester on Monday.

Manager David Hoggart said: “The new averages are out for August, and we are largely in the same shape because it seems to work well with Nicolai (Klindt) at No.5.

“Ipswich will be tough, but I certainly hope they don’t come and turn us over. I know I’ve been saying that for a month now, and it has been difficult for us.

“Losing Thomas is another blow, but we’ve got to do our very, very best. You could see riders racing for it last week, and hopefully they will make some better starts as that was where we lost out against Peterborough.”

King’s Lynn Stars: Artem Laguta, Thomas Jorgensen R/R, Benjamin Basso, Emil Breum, Nicolai Klindt, Simon Lambert, Anders Rowe.

Ipswich Witches: Emil Sayfutdinov, Erik Riss, Danny King, Keynan Rew, Jason Doyle, Danyon Hume, Dan Thompson.