The Ipswich Witches face a stern test at Foxhall tonight as they face the Glasgow Tigers in the Championship (7.30pm).

After a frustrating break in racing following last week’s rain-off at Foxhall against Berwick, the Suffolk side are back in the thick of the action with three meetings in three days against play-off rivals.

First it is home and away ties against Glasgow, who currently sit third in the table.

The Witches welcome in local lad Drew Kemp at reserve for his Ipswich debut. Kemp turned 16 last Saturday and has been in scintillating form in the National League with Mildenhall in his first season going from a 3.00 average to 9.03.

He is a rider who many fans can’t wait to see in Witches colours after years of watching him practice at Foxhall before and after meetings.

Captain Danny King is again replaced with a guest, with Lakeside’s Richard Lawson coming in at number five.

Hawkins says

Team manager Ritchie Hawkins said: “Over the two meetings we need to take more points than them. We need to win at home and make sure they don’t take a point and then try and get something at Glasgow as well.

“It is a massive three meetings for us, our season rests on these three meetings. A bad result on Thursday and it is pretty much game over. A good result and we are right in the mix.

“Thursday will be Drew’s debut and there is no pressure on him. As good as he has been and as talented as we know he is we can’t expect too much from him.

“It is a really big meeting for him to come into but he is in great form and is an immense talent who we are lucky to have and it is a massive boost for everyone.”

The teams

Ipswich: 1. Rory Schlein 9.32 (c) 2. Cameron Heeps 6.55 3. Nico Covatti 6.81 4. Mark Riss 5.16 5. Richard Lawson (g) 8.90 6. Coty Garcia 4.04 7. Drew Kemp 2.00. Team Manager: Ritchie Hawkins

Glasgow: 1. Craig Cook 9.93 2. Nathan Greaves 4.32 3. Chris Harris 8.07 (c) 4. Paul Starke 5.60 5. Claus Vissing 7.39 6. James Sarjeant 4.16 7. Jack Thomas 2.31 Team Manager: Cameron Brown