Table-topping Witches looking to get back to winning ways at Oxford

The table-topping Ipswich ‘Tru7 Group’ Witches travel to Oxford to face the Spires tomorrow night in a ROWE Motor Oil Premiership R2 fixture (7.30pm).

The Suffolk side started the week in Manchester where they fell to a heavy defeat against Belle Vue, just their third defeat of the season.

Tomorrow's trip is the restaging of the abandoned clash from last month where the Witches had a 10-point lead after six races before rain stopped play.

Regular guest Scott Nicholls again comes in for the injured Jason Doyle at number one. Nicholls knows most tracks well and has plenty of recent experience at this one, riding for the Oxford Cheetahs in the Championship.

It is a place that Ipswich have already won at this season, taking a 48-42 victory back in April.

Team manager Ritchie Hawkins said: “It is great to be straight back in on Thursday and not have a big gap. We have raced one and a half meetings there this year and have gone very well in those. We were in a great position before the unfortunate rain-off a few weeks ago and the boys are determined to go and get those points.

“We have come off a bad result, but our confidence is still high and we go there with determination. Monday’s result puts more emphasis on winning and getting back on another winning streak quickly.

“Injury wise, Adam (Ellis) didn’t struggle too badly on Monday with his side. He and Jordan (Jenkins) have had a few days of rest, which has been really good for them. We have got Scott back in the team, which has worked very well this year, and it is a track he clearly knows well. We will go there with what feels like a full team and high expectations of ourselves.”

Oxford currently occupy fourth place in the table and got a much-needed win on Monday against a depleted Sheffield to boost their play-off hopes. The Spires have won six of their seven home meetings, losing only to Ipswich, with all of those meetings being tight.

The Spires made a team change last week with Drew Kemp replacing Lewis Kerr and he rides at number two for the hosts.

OXFORD: 1. Rohan Tungate 7.43 2. Drew Kemp 4.45 3. Maciej Janowski 6.04 4. Charles Wright 6.27 5. Chris Harris 6.33 © 6. Erik Riss 4.30 7. Ashton Boughen (RS). Team Manager: Peter Schroeck

IPSWICH: 1. Scott Nicholls (G) 9.36 2. Dan Thompson 4.84 (RS) 3. Danny King 7.72 © 4. Adam Ellis 6.07 5. Emil Sayfutdinov 9.15 6. Keynan Rew 4.52 7. Jordan Jenkins 3.66. Team Manager: Ritchie Hawkins

Referee: C. Turnbull