PREVIEWING: OXFORD v POOLE - RIVALS FACE THEIR FINAL LEAGUE MATCH

The 'Wessex Marine Pirates are set to complete their regular SGB Cab Direct Championship fixtures when they travel to Oxford on Wednesday (20th August) evening, hence the absence of any Wimborne Road action this week.

Whilst the Pirates still have their eyes firmly fixed on a top spot finish, they know they are going to have to win to achieve that,  as Glasgow are rapidly closing in on them. In contrast however, Oxford, who were part of the dramatic Grand Final last season, know this year's playoffs have slipped them by.

Expressing his thoughts on the match-up, Poole promoter Dan Ford said "They might well be out of the chase, but if I know anything about Peter Schroeck it is that he will have his side fired up, especially after the drubbing we gave them last week in the BSN semi final. For this league match we do not have that many points in hand as far as the bonus point is concerned,  just six, and that will take some defending at Cowley.  It effectively means we will need to be on our A- game if we are to move off the 28 league points we have accumulated so far. That at least means we have to go into the meeting believing it is a must-win affair and in some respects that helps with the mindset.  Unfortunately, we go into the meeting without a full side.  Whilst I would never deny a rider taking a guest booking,  it is frustrating when one of your riders picks up an injury when helping out another team,  as is the case for Tobias.  The timing couldn't really be any worse as he had just come into some good form and was riding above his green sheet average which makes finding a replacement so much harder. Hopefully though we will get through Wednesday and he will be back with us in time for next week's match against Glasgow."

Fixtures between these two sides have frequently dealt out more than a fair share of talking points, and such is the rivalry between these two sides,  this league clash is almost guaranteed to be a spectacular duel.

Neither side will be at full strength on Wednesday, for besides Thomsen nursing an ankle injury sustained whilst guesting for Plymouth at the weekend,  Oxford will be without Francis Gusts,  who is a week into a 28-day SCB suspension, imposed for missing last Wednesday's clash between the two sides. Poole will operate the rider replacement facility and Oxford have booked the impressive Jacob Hook as a guest.

The contest does however bring together the top two riders in the SGB Cab Direct Championship in Cheetahs Sam Masters and Poole’s Richard Lawson.  Although Masters holds the higher Green Sheet average (for August) by just under half a point, it is Lawson who presently holds the edge in their head to heads. They have met each other in thirteen races at this level with the Rocketman having prevailed nine times to Masters four.

Teams
Oxford [expected] (TM Peter Schroek 1 Sam Masters (Capt) 2 Jacob Hook 3 Jordan Jenkins 4 Mitch McDiarmid 5 Cameron Heeps 6 Luke Killeen 7 Jonas Knudsen
Poole (TM Neil Middleditch) 1 Richard Lawson 2 Rider Replacement 3 Lewis Kerr 4 Zach Cook (Capt) 5 Anders Rowe 6 Paul Starke 7 William Cairns

Photo credit: Steve Edmunds