IT'S a rivalry that has been missing since they last clashed in a British League Cup meeting in 2003, but tonight King's Lynn and Ipswich Evening Star Witches go head to head once more at the Norfolk Arena as the 2008 speedway season gets underway.

Mike Bacon

IT'S a rivalry that has been missing since they last clashed in a British League Cup meeting in 2003, but tonight King's Lynn and Ipswich Evening Star Witches go head to head once more at the Norfolk Arena as the 2008 speedway season gets underway.

Lynn and Ipswich are in different leagues these days, but the rivalry goes back decades and just like a Norwich/

Ipswich Town football match, both sets of supporters want nothing less than victory.

Witches skipper Chris Louis said: “You can build it up as a friendly challenge if you want, but there will be nothing friendly about a meeting between Lynn and Ipswich.

“Their promoter Jonathan Chapman has said we might sneak a win at their place. But I want us to go there and beat them comfortable.”

The Witches Elite League ability ought to be enough to see them through, both tonight and tomorrow when the tapes to up at Foxhall for the first time this season.

But as everyone blows away the winter cobwebs, both sides will be looking for encouraging boosts.

Robert Miskowiak has been handed the No.1 race jacket at the start of 2008, with Chris Louis and Steve Johnston

no doubt hoping to form the type of partnership, Louis and Jesper B Jensen did in 2004.

Miskowiak and fellow Pole Piotr Swiderski are partnered together, while Jarek Hampel will be expected to score heavily from the No.5 position. Tonight's meeting starts at 7.30pm.

Tonight's teams

Ipswich: 1 Robert Miskowiak, 2 Piotr Swiderski, 3 Chris Louis, 4 Steve Johnston, 5 Jarek Hampel, 6 Tobi Kroner, 7 Chris Schramm.

King's Lynn: Tomas Topinka, Shaun Tacey, Kevin Doolan, Kozza Smith, Rusty Harrison, John Oliver, Simon Lambert.