Aussie star Cameron Heeps returns to the Ipswich Witches fold for play-off final

Heeps is set to return, assuming the Yorkshire club overcome Glasgow tomorrow night in their second leg play-off – Sheffield lead the Scottish side by 28 points after the first leg – for the first leg of the final at Owlerton, on Thursday night.

The Perth-based Aussie suffered shoulder damage in a crash against Peterborough last month and has been on the sidelines ever since.

However, Witches director of speedway Chris Louis is happy that Heeps is fit enough to return to the team’s biggest meeting of the season.

“Cameron is an important member of the side and has been in superb form for us this season,” Louis said.

“If he says he’s fit to race, then as far as I’m concerned, he’s fit to race.

“Up to now I think Richie (Hawkins) and me have done well getting the guests right and the riders we have chosen have done well for us.

“But you can’t beat having your own riders and Cam is very much that.

“Thursday will not be the first time he has been on a bike since his injury. He’s been practising and has had three full sessions. He feels fine.”

Heeps returns to an Ipswich side who will be buoyed by the terrific result at Edinburgh on Friday night, where they defended a narrow ten-point lead.

The weekend was dampened somewhat though for Witches fans with the news young reserve Connor Mountain crashed riding for Mildenhall at Stoke on Saturday night.

He was taken to hospital with shoulder damage and faces a late fitness test on Wednesday. It is likely to be touch and go over Mountain’s fitness.

Meanwhile, the Witches are already looking forward to what should be a cracking night of speedway on Saturday night at the Heath in what is likely to be the play-off final, second leg.

If it is Sheffield they will be facing, they will be facing them again the week after, when the two club’s meet in the KO Cup semi-finals. The other semi-final is Peterborough or Scunthorpe v Glasgow or Newcastle.