The ‘Tru7.com’ Witches welcome back a new look Berwick Bandits to Foxhall on Thursday in a Championship fixture (7.30pm).

The two sides have met already this season home and away in the Knockout Cup with the Witches sailing through to the next round after a big 60-30 at home and a narrow defeat at Berwick.

The home side will be pleased to see the back of last week after losing Nico Covatti to a broken wrist and Cameron Heeps to illness. The news is better coming into tomorrow’s meeting with Kyle Newman back from injury and set to make his long awaited Witches debut.

Heeps has also recovered from his sickness bug to take his place back in the side at number three and Team Manager Ritchie Hawkins will also resume his duties on Thursday after illness. Rider Replacement continues to be used in Covatti’s absence with Hawkins switching the riding order for this fixture.

The visitors have endured a difficult start to 2017 and are yet to pick up any league points from six outings. The Bandits have wasted no time in making team changes and in come Australian duo Nick Morris and Jye Etheridge alongside Lee Payne at number seven. Out go the trio of Dimitri Berge, Ryan Blacklock and Claus Vissing as the basement side look to kick start their season.

Ipswich will be hoping to continue their fine form at Foxhall which has seen them win every meeting so far this season.

Ipswich Promoter Chris Louis believes his side need to win big at Foxhall as they play catch-up in the league.

“We have got to be 100% unbeaten at home and we have got to win big at home because we have dropped a couple of points that maybe we wouldn’t have if we hadn’t had these injury problems,” said Louis.

“It’s still early in the season but we are on the back foot a little. I am confident that we can pull through it and if points difference is going to have a bearing on things then we have to win big.”

Louis is hoping the weather stays clear for Saturday’s visit to Berwick as the Witches look to pick up more points on the road.

“We go to their track on Saturday and hopefully the weather won’t intervene like it did last time and made life difficult for both sides. It wasn’t a race track, it was just a case of getting round the best you could. Hopefully we will go there in better conditions and pick up some points away from home on Saturday.”

Ipswich ‘Tru7.com’ Witches:

1. Danny King (c) 9.57

2. R/R for Nico Covatti 7.49

3. Cameron Heeps 5.07

4. Kyle Newman 6.31

5. Rory Schlein 7.17

6. Connor Mountain 2.00

7. Danyon Hume 2.00

Team Manager: Ritchie Hawkins

‘Olympus Marquees’ Berwick Bandits:

1. Nick Morris 8.97

2. Jye Etheridge 4.00

3. Kevin Doolan (c) 6.99

4. Liam Carr 4.69

5. Lewis Bridger 8.53

6. Danny Gappmaier 4.00

7. Lee Payne 2.61

Team Manager: Gary Havelock

Referee: D. Robinson

Championship Table

Team Pl Pts

Edinburgh 5 16

Glasgow 5 13

Ipswich 7 10

Sheffield 5 9

Peterborough 5 9

Workington 3 7

Scunthorpe 9 7

Newcastle 3 6

Redcar 4 6

Berwick 6 0

Last five home results v Berwick:

30.03.17 W60-30

14.07.16 W58-34

20.08.15 W60-30

21.05.15 W46-44

31.07.14 W60-34

Berwick’s last five:

CH Berwick 42-48 Scunthorpe

CH Berwick 44-46 Glasgow

CH Edinburgh 57-33 Berwick

CH Newcastle 58-33 Berwick

CH Berwick 42-48 Edinburgh

Meanwhile this Saturday there is a grasstrack meeting at Manor Farm, Gosbeck, near Ipswich IP6 9SH, 1.30 start

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