Cameron Heeps will miss the Witches play-off semi-final clashes with Edinburgh Monarchs this week.

The young Aussie injured his shoulder in his final ride against Peterborough three weeks ago at Foxhall. The Witches race the Scottish side on Thursday night at Foxhall and in Scotland the next night.

He has had a practice session to see how the injury is getting on, but the prognosis for now isn’t good, as Witches director of speedway, Chris Louis explained.

“Cam is desperate to ride, quite obviously,” Louis said.

“He had a spin last week but he is clearly not fit yet. We can’t go into a meeting as important as this with a rider not fit and Cam knows that. But he’s not far away and he may hopefully still have the play-off final to come should we make that, and we still have the KOC semi-finals.

“He will have a go round after the meeting with the Monarchs on Thursday to see how he is feeling.”

The Witches will therefore call on Workington’s Mason Campton as a guest, who rode in that same meeting against Peterborough that Heeps got injured, scoring an impressive 12 points.

He will replace the still injured Justin Sedgmen, while rider replacement will be used for Heeps.

“I’m disappointed for Cameron and perhaps it if were mid-season we could take a risk with him,” Louis added.

“But it’s not, and for what is the most important meeting of the season so far for us, we can’t take risks.”

Sheffield had first pick of their Championship play-off opponents this lunchtime and went for Glasgow, who have been wobbling a bit of late.

It was no surprise to Louis.

“I thought all along Sheffield would go for Glasgow,” he said.

“Apart from anything else they also know Edinburgh are the only side to beat us at Foxhall and maybe they could put us out. It’s tactics on their part.

“Then again there no poor sides now. We are down to the final four.

“I just hope the fans continue to get behind us as they have all season and come out and support us.”

Edinburgh, indeed, were the only side to defeat the Witches in the regular season at Foxhall.

The Witches let a 12-point lead slip at Foxhall that night, back in July, while they let another healthy lead at Edinburgh slip when the two sides met earlier in the season.

The Monarchs will be led by Aussie star Sam Masters and American Ricky Wells, while the Riss brothers, Mark and Erik have both been in good form of late.

Season ticket holders will receive discounted admission for the meeting on Thursday (£14 Adults, £11.50 Concessions & Students).