Struggling Wolves face gruelling test
Struggling Wolves face a gruelling test of three Elite League away matches in three days, starting with a trip to Swindon.
Struggling Wolves face a gruelling test of three Elite League away matches in three days, starting with a trip to Swindon.
After the disappointment of seeing Monday's home encounter with Ipswich washed out by the weather and rearranged for September 15, the side will hope for better weather than is forecast.
They hand debuts to new signings Morten Risager and Ludvig Lindgren, to replace the axed Ales Dryml and Kenneth Hansen.
Hansen is now devoid of a British team place, after Birmingham boss Graham Drury pulled the plug on his anticipated move into the Premier League at Perry Barr .
Risager was released by Peterborough earlier this season and is enthusiastic about making his Wolves debut at Blunsdon.
Lindgren has admitted his 2008 tenure with Wolves alongside brother Fredrik will be a test period, as he learns the ropes of British speedway.
David Howe returns to the side tonight after recovering from a foot injury sustained in a crash in Poland. Jesper B Monberg has recovered from the illness which would have kept him out of Monday's meeting.
Niels Kristian Iversen is absent with shoulder damage, suffered in a fall at Belle Vue last week in Wolves' 60-30 defeat.
Iversen bravely tried to ride in the Latvian Grand Prix at Daugavpils on Saturday, but had another fall and is likely to miss all three of Wolves' upcoming meetings.
The news comes as a blow to the club, as the Dane was in flying form. The rider replacement rule will have to be used, because Iversen is just below Fredrik Lindgren in the averages, so a guest cannot appear.
Following their appearance on the fast Blunsdon circuit, the team tomorrow race at Lakeside for the second time in three weeks, before facing Eastbourne on Saturday.
Swindon have surprised many with their flying Elite League form in 2008 – the Robins are third.
Club legend Leigh Adams spearheads them, while Croatian teenager Jurica Pavlic has wowed everyone since his debut in the Elite League a few weeks ago – including a stunning 21-point maximum at Lakeside on his debut at the track.
The Croatian will be a danger from reserve, while Sebastian Alden returns from a foot injury in place of the struggling Travis McGowan.
Mads Korneliussen and Manuel Hauzinger are also doubtful for the home side, with Australian young gun Richard Sweetman lined up to deputise for the Austrian at reserve.
Rider replacement will be used for the Dane if he has not recovered from concussion.
Swindon (provisional): Leigh Adams, James Wright, Mads Korneliussen, Sebastian Alden, Troy Batchelor, Manuel Hauzinger, Jurica Pavlic.
Wolves: Fredrik Lindgren, Morten Risager, Niels Kristian Iversen (rider replacement), Jesper B Monberg, David Howe, Nicolai Klindt, Ludvig Lindgren.
