FOR the fifth time this season, Ipswich Witches will be hoping to at last race a Premier League fixture at Workington this evening.

Incredibly, and as yet, neither the Comets nor the Witches have met at Derwent Park, with meetings scheduled for May 21, July 17, September 3 and 24, all being called off because of the weather in the north-west.

It’s been a nightmare season for the Cumbrian club, and they still have five more home meetings to fit in between now and October 31, with Ipswich again scheduled back at Workington in eight days time.

Last Saturday’s home clash between Workington and Plymouth was called-off half-an-hour before the scheduled start and there are serious doubts as to whether it can be fitted in before the season ends.

Comets team manager Tony Jackson said: “It’s the third time we’ve been rained-off against Plymouth at home, and twice they were actually in the stadium.

“They still have to come back again so whether we’ll be able to ride it as a double header I’m not sure.

“We’ve had ten home matches rained-off this season which is the worst I can remember. We are just keeping our fingers crossed for this weekend.”

Light rain is forecast for tonight around tea-time, by which time the Witches will already be in Cumbria.

The biggest problem with the Derwent Park track is that it has had so much rain on it, it doesn’t take much make it un-raceable.

“I’ve spoken to riders who have managed to ride at Workington recently and the track hasn’t been the best,” Witches captain Kevin Doolan said.

“The club have tried to race meetings despite the awful conditions, but it doesn’t do the track any favours.”

Workington could still take the runners-up place in the Premier League table should they win all their home matches convincingly. And as they are unbeaten at their huge Derwent circuit so far in 2011, that is more than likely.

The Witches, at least, know they have the matter of the runners-up position firmly in their own hands however.

Should they pick up a point or two from the two meetings at the Comets track in the next eight days, it would put them in boss position.

Ipswich will use rider replacement for the injured Mat Tresarrieu, while Chris Mills is still unfit and Kyle Howarth takes his place.

Tonight’s teams

Workington: R Harrison, 2 R/R, 3 S Nielsen, 4 R Lawson, 5 A Roynon, 6 J Courtney, 7 K Ingalls.

Ipswich: K Doolan, 2 T Poole, 3 R/R, 4 M Risager, 5 L Bjerre, 6 J Hart, 7 K Howarth.