PETERBOROUGH take on another team with title aspirations this year as the Parry's International Wolves visit the Showground for the first time this year in a match sponsored by TC Harrison Ford.

PETERBOROUGH take on another team with title aspirations this year as the Parry's International Wolves visit the Showground for the first time this year in a match sponsored by TC Harrison Ford.

The Wolves are currently vying for top spot with Swindon and have undergone real rags to riches success after finishing with the wooden spoon in 2008.

Wolverhampton boasts a seriously competitive top 5, led by Freddie Lindgren and the popular ex Panther, Peter Karlsson. Lindgren has increased his starting average by 2.5 points this year and has proved nigh on unbeatable at Monmore Green.

Completing the top 5 are Tai Woffinden, who won the World U21 Semi Final at Miskolc on Saturday, Adam Skornicki and one time Panthers target Nicolai Klindt, all three have so far increased their starting averages and this is a major factor in the Wolves success this year.

They are yet to drop any points at the Green so far and have two away wins under their belt already.

Completing the team at reserve is Hynek Stichauer, who so far has found points hard to come by and doubling up reserve Chris Kerr. Wolves other doubling up rider Ty Proctor, who last year rode as the Panthers no 8, misses the Showground leg as he is riding for his PL side Redcar on Thursday.

Panthers meanwhile have several riders with previous Monmore connections who are looking forward to returning there next week.

Captain Niels Kristian Iversen played a starring role riding on loan for Wolves last year, whilst Ales Dryml and Kenneth Hansen also had spells riding for the Black Country outfit in 2008.

Ales Dryml is looking forward to returning a track he enjoys riding and said: “Its always a bit different going to a track once or twice a year compared with riding it every week, but I have the same set ups as last year and hopefully the track hasn't changed much and we can bang it in from the first heat and see how it works. We are very strong at home at the moment as are Wolves and they should both be good matches, so we will see”.

Team Manager Trevor Swales said: “We have had some poor results recently and we need to regroup, refocus and get going again, Wolverhampton are one of the form teams at the moment and are flying at Monmore Green. But we have enough firepower to beat them with the biggest factor coming at reserve, but having said that I expect both meetings to be hard, they have several riders who like the Showground but we also have riders with experience of Monmore Green”.

Promoter Mick Bratley said: “The last two results on the road have been dire; we can't hide that fact and nor should we. We are not looking very comfortable in the league form guide either. We need to ask ourselves the question: 'do we really want to be in the mix at the end of the season or do we want to be also ran's. Have we got the desire that is needed to push on?' Maybe we will get the answer after Thursday and Monday”.

Owner Rick Frost said: “Wolverhampton will no doubt provide strong opposition at home this Thursday but I have every confidence we will come out on top. The away return on Monday will be a hard one but it`s never all over until the fat lady sings”.

Official Teams in Alphabetical order (GSA in brackets)

Peterborough Panthers: Henning BAGER (4.63), Kenneth BJERRE (7.93), Ales DRYML (4.53), Kenneth HANSEN (3.57), Niels Kristian IVERSEN (8.21) Captain, Mads KORNELIUSSEN (7.00) & Claus VISSING (4.47).

Team Managers Trevor & Wayne Swales

Wolverhampton Wolves: Peter KARLSSON (8.68) Captain, Chris KERR (3.24), Nicolai KLINDT (4.48), Fredrik LINDGREN (10.67), Adam SKORNICKI (7.12), Hynek SITCHAUER (4.00) & Tai WOFFINDEN (7.08).

Team Manager Peter Adams