IT will be a case of what might have been when Ipswich Witches ride their penultimate Elite League meeting of the season at Eastbourne tonight (7.30pm).

Elvin King

IT will be a case of what might have been when Ipswich Witches ride their penultimate Elite League meeting of the season at Eastbourne tonight (7.30pm).

Both clubs are on 35 points with sixth position in the table up for grabs in the Eagles final meeting of the season.

Before the rules were controversially altered mid-season, the top six sides were destined to be involved in the title-deciding play-offs.

Now it is the just the top four, which takes much of the sting out of tonight's fixture.

But there is still plenty at stake with Ipswich team manager Pete Simmons saying: “If we can get something at Arlington we will finish sixth, and our aim, and promise, at the start of the campaign was to finish in a play-off position.”

Apart from the injured Tobi Krone, who is not expected to ride competitively again this year, the Witches will be at full strength and they will be buoyed by their display at Belle Vue on Monday when they lost to the Aces by just one point.

“Every rider did their bit and it was an encouraging performance,” said Simmons. “Unfortunately Krzysztof Kasprzak woke up in the re-run of the last heat to take first place after being passed in his previous ride.

“It would be nice to wrap up sixth place at Eastbourne rather than wait for our final meeting at Belle Vue on Monday week.

“Danny King is happy to ride at number five again where there is a little more pressure, and he could be our trump card after scoring 14 points on his last visit to Arlington.

“This gives Scott Nicholls the chance to flex his muscles at number four.”

Eastbourne: D Watt, S Gustafsson, L Bridger, C Woodward, L Dryml, R Kling, T Proctor.

Ipswich R Miskowiak, rider replacement, T Batchelor, S Nicholls, D King, D Stachyra, C Wilkinson.