THE 2009 speedway season shifts into August this Saturday as the Silver Ski Rockets return to home action after a fortnight's break with the visit of Birmingham.

THE 2009 speedway season shifts into August this Saturday as the Silver Ski Rockets return to home action after a fortnight's break with the visit of Birmingham.

After propping up the Southern group in the Premier Trophy and being dumped out of the Knock-Out Cup by the Rockets, the Brummies have recovered in the main Premier League programme by winning at Scunthorpe and claiming match points from their trips to Newcastle, Redcar and Stoke.

Last Wednesday's 46-44 home defeat by Glasgow was certainly a shock to their system, but they are generally a team on the rebound since that original faltering start.

Heading their charge into town are Premier League Pairs champions Jason Lyons - who has guested for the Rockets this season - and Tomasz Piszcz.

Lyons' pedigree includes a World Cup gold medal and two overseas titles, while more recently he did double duty as a regular Rockets guest when Robert Mear was sidelined with a hand injury.

Polish iron man Tomasz, meanwhile, is known for both his lightning starts and a powerful record around Rye, with scores of 16 and 17 to show from two of his last three visits

Also in the Second City mix are back-to-back World U21 finalist Ludvig Lindgren, who will be aiming to improve on last year's impressive ninth place when the 2009 Final is staged in October, double World U21 semi-finalist Robert Ksiezak and fellow Aussie Richard Sweetman.

Rounding out the team are former Somerset Rebel - and newly crowned Bronze Helmet winner - Jay Herne, and British U21 international and world competitor Lee Smart, who has ridden for both Glasgow and Stoke this season and was named last week as a replacement for the departed Manuel Hauzinger.

The action starts at 7pm.