IPSWICH Witches fans have a chance to see this season’s likely Elite League champions in action tonight at Foxhall Stadium.

Poole Pirates are in town in an Elite League clash, fresh from drawing with Wolverhampton in a thrilling play-off semi-final first leg clash on Monday night.

Indeed it appears strange league fixtures are still taking place while the play-offs have begun.

However that won’t affect the efforts of both sets of teams who are likely to serve up good fayre, although Poole could be forgiven for having one eye on Monday’s return leg against Wolves in Dorset.

But the Pirates will be helped along the way tonight against a weakened Witches side who are minus all of their Polish stars.

Chris Slabon is injured, while Robert Miskowiak and Dawid Stachyra are both required to ride in the Polish Golden Helmet tonight in their native country.

It explains much the positioning of the two clubs right now.

Poole top of the table and flying, with a consistent 1-7 line-up, mainly based around Australians who live in and around the Poole area, while the Witches – not for the first time – are having to give in to the Polish Federations, even on their own Thursday race night.

Another irony tonight is, that Ipswich will be using guest Ryan Fisher from Edinburgh for Slabon, the American likely to be facing them in the play-off/relegation battle in a couple of weeks.

For some Ipswich riders there is still the chance to impress.

While it is not known which league the Witches will participate in next year, there is still much the home riders can do to push for a starting place in 2011.

The likes of Richie Hawkins, Kozza Smith and Ales Dryml could potentially participate in Witches colours, whatever league they race in next year.

Certainly the loyal Foxhall fans would like to see a successful end to the season and will be hoping their riders can make it three successive home victories, after recent wins against Swindon and Belle Vue.

Teams

Ipswich: S Nicholls, R Fisher, D King, A Dryml, R/R, R Hawkins, K Smith.

Poole: C Holder, D Ward, B Pedersen, A Mroczka, D Watt, L Madsen, J Doyle.