Elite League BCoventry Bees v Peterborough PanthersPETERBOROUGH visit Brandon on Friday for the second fixture in this weekend's series with both teams affected by the weekend's GP qualification semi-finals.

Elite League B

Coventry Bees v Peterborough Panthers

PETERBOROUGH visit Brandon on Friday for the second fixture in this weekend's series with both teams affected by the weekend's GP qualification semi-finals.

The Bees are missing captain Chris Harris and Rory Schlien and have booked Eastbourne's new No.1 Lewis Bridger to guest in place of Schlein, using rider replacement to cover for the missing captain, with anyone able to take a ride as Harris is No.2 by CMA in the Bees current GSA.

Coventry's new No.8 Klaus Jacobsen makes his home debut for the Bees as both the current doubling up riders are unavailable for this match.

Panthers meanwhile are missing Kenneth Bjerre and Ales Dryml and have booked Kings Lynn's exciting and talented new No.1 Darcy Ward to guest in place of Ales and will be operating R/R for the missing Bjerre, with everyone able to take a ride.

Both teams are currently competing for a play off place and both have recently received set backs courtesy of home defeats, so the fixture is important to both teams with the result likely to be decided by the contributions of each teams respective lower order.

Kenneth Hansen, who played a starring role in the last match at reserve with a paid 15 return will be making his debut in the main body of the team, whilst Coventry's free scoring reserve in the A fixture Jordan Frampton is still absent from the Bees line up having been dropped to accommodate Scott Nicholls in the revised Coventry team.

Team manager Trevor Swales said: “It will be hard for us because we are missing Kenneth Bjerre and Ales Dryml, I have booked Darcy Ward as a guest replacement for Ales and think he will do a good job, we will be using rider replacement for Kenneth Bjerre but with Hansen now in the team I am hoping that Claus will continue on from top scoring last week and do a job at reserve. To be fair Coventry has also been hit by this weekends world championship semi finals and I think it will be a close match.”

Mick Bratley said: “In all fairness we are both evenly matched sides, it should be a good meeting. I am particularly looking forward to Darcy Ward riding for the Panthers.”

Rick Frost said: “This meeting is set to be a great contest between two teams that have everything to play for. It all depends on the night and the outcome is too close to call. I would like to get our own back for our previous close ELA defeat at Brandon this year and I'm sure our team feel the same.”

Bee's v Panther's - Recent Previous History

2009 - Coventry 53 Peterborough 37 KOC

2009 - Coventry 44 Peterborough 39 ELA

2008 - Coventry 59 Peterborough 36 ELB

2008 - Coventry 48 Peterborough 42 ELA

Official Teams in alphabetical order (Green Sheet Averages in Brackets)

Please note - A Guest assumes the position and CMA of the Replaced Rider.

Coventry Bees

Lewis BRIDGER (7.85), Chris HARRIS (8.22) R/R, Klaus JACOBSEN (3.00), Edward KENNETT (8.13), Scott NICHOLLS (8.98), Filip SITERA (4.00) & Ricky WELLS (3.00).

Team Managers Peter Oakes & Colin Pratt

Peterborough Panthers

Henning BAGER (4.55), Kenneth BJERRE (7.81) R/R, Kenneth HANSEN (6.10), Niels Kristian IVERSEN (8.28) Captain, Mads KORNELIUSSEN (6.97), Claus VISSING (4.00) and Darcy WARD (4.57).

Team Managers Trevor & Wayne Swales

SCB Referee - Ms Christina TURNBULL