No pain no gain for Wolves duo

The Swedish veteran and the Aussie tyro will take to the track despite injuries which, by rights, should have left them watching tonight's Monmore Green first leg rather than riding in it.

Karlsson will go to the tapes exactly a fortnight after breaking his collarbone, when he crashed into fallen Lakeside rider Stuart Robson.

Double-up rider Proctor also takes part, despite being forced out of Redcar's match at Scunthorpe on Friday by a combination of kidney infection and back injury.

Karlsson returns tonight (7.30pm) due to a combination of laser treatment by specialist Brian Simpson and a stubborn refusal to miss the Parrys International Wolves' biggest match since the 2004 play-off final they lost to Poole.

The skipper even brought forward a test spin at the Mariestad circuit in his native Sweden by a day, turning out on Friday instead of Saturday.

He said: "The weather was supposed to be poor on Saturday – and it was, so that was a good call. I went quite well, it was a good test. I managed to try some parts on my bike and a new engine."

Indeed, so impressed was the 39-year-old with the power plant that it went straight "into the suitcase" for yesterday's flight to Britain.

Rider-replacement covered reasonably well for Karlsson in the semi-final second leg at Lakeside. But the nightmare scenario for Wolves fans is that the skipper could start tonight's match and then have to pull out, with only the reserves then able to cover his outings.

He said: "I wouldn't gamble on that, it could be bad news. I want to be in the final. It's as simple as that. I'm sure I can do my best.

"It will be tough, for sure. It's the two best teams now. I hope we can take a lead to Swindon, that would be good."

And the size of that lead?

He said: "It doesn't matter. If we win, that's good. If we win by two or 12 it doesn't make it any easier at Swindon – unless we win by 25 or more, and it's all over then!

"I don't think that will happen! I am sure it will be close and we will have to be on our toes. But I think we are the team to beat. If every one of our team goes as they can, we are going to be very close.

"I think the team is as good as it is going to be. I hope I can come up to my normal standard. Then we will be looking good. I'm ready for action!"

Wolves: 1 Fredrik Lindgren, 2 Nicolai Klindt, 3 Adam Skornicki, 4 Tai Woffinden, 5 Peter Karlsson, 6 Chris Kerr, 7 Ty Proctor.

Swindon: 1 Leigh Adams, 2 Ryan Fisher, 3 Travis McGowan, 4 Simon Stead, 5 Matej Zagar, 6 Paul Hurry, 7 Morten Risager.