IPSWICH Witches will be hoping a big Bank Holiday crowd can cheer them to victory over Sheffield Tigers at Foxhall Stadium this afternoon.

IPSWICH Witches will be hoping a big Bank Holiday crowd can cheer them to victory over Sheffield Tigers at Foxhall Stadium this afternoon, 2.30pm.

More than 4,000 fans were in attendance to watch the Suffolk side beat Leicester Lions in the Good Friday fixture last month.

And a similar crowd today will not only boost the riders, but also the Witches management who have suffered with three home meetings falling foul of the weather in the past month.

Today, the Witches at last look to open their Premier League campaign after previous clashes with Scunthorpe and Newcastle were postponed.

Sheffield Tigers, who pipped Ipswich for runners-up spot last year, are the visitors to Suffolk, but have made a disappointing start to the 2012 season.

With the loss of top stars Shane Parker (retired) and Ricky Ashworth (moved to Berwick), the Tigers have struggled to recapture the form that saw them win a host of meetings – and friends – during last season’s successful campaign.

Today’s clash with Sheffield begins a hectic week for the Witches who travel to Redcar on Thursday night and then travel on to Edinburgh on Friday – both Premier League meetings.

However, two riders who are not disappointed with the amount of rain-offs their team-mates are currently experiencing, are injured Witches duo Morten Risager and Taylor Poole.

While neither is set to rush back into action in the next month, there can be little doubt both are on the mend.

“Everything looks good and I have got to go back and see the doctor again in a few weeks,” Poole said.

“It’s important that I do not rush back too early, but things are going well.”

Meanwhile Sheffield boss Neil Machin knows Ipswich will give his side a big test this afternoon.

“The trip to Ipswich is a tough one,” he said.

“But we have to face these challenges and it will give us a chance to measure the progress of our side.”

The turnstiles will open at 1pm today with a bouncy castle for the kids and a poster signing session with the Witches team.

Weather and track work permitting there will also be an opportunity for fans to walk the track.

Children can also go free with a paying adult and a voucher from the Ipswich Star.

Today’s line-ups

Ipswich: L Lanham, R/R, K Doolan, D North, M Tresarrieu, C Heeps, R Tungate.

Sheffield: J Franc, H Skidmore, R Wells, R Hall, E Sanchez, C Jakobsen, J Haines.