PETERBOROUGH have stepped up their preparations for the new Elite League season by agreeing a date at Premier League side Rye House on Saturday March 31.

PETERBOROUGH have stepped up their preparations for the new Elite League season by agreeing a date at Premier League side Rye House on Saturday March 31.

Panthers begin their top-flight campaign with a double-date against local rivals King’s Lynn on Good Friday, but will be getting plenty of laps in before then with a couple of early-season warm-up fixtures.

The season starts on Monday March 19 at the Showground when they go up against a strong Ryan Sullivan led septet, and the fixture against the Rockets twelve days later will be equally beneficial as their squad of riders continue to blow away the winter cobwebs.

The Panthers, will, however, go into the match without Kenneth Bjerre who will be competing in the New Zealand Grand Prix, but that apart, will send a strong team to the Hoddesdon track.

Former Rye House favourite Linus Sundstrom has confirmed his attendance, along with Olly Allen, Michael Jepsen Jensen and Kyle Newman. Peterborough bosses are currently working on the other three places.

Rye House have strengthened their side by calling-up Tai Woffinden who previously rode for the Hertfordshire club between 2007-08, before moving up to the top flight with Wolverhampton. Woffinden will replace Jason Bunyan, who is also racing in the Grand Prix in Auckland as a wild-card.

Peterborough co-boss Trevor Swales said: “This is a good fixture for us to ride at this time. It’s ideal to get some more track time before we get our Elite League campaign underway, and also beneficial to go somewhere new as Rye House is a track some of the lads won’t have ridden before.

“It’ll be a good test for us, and it’ll be helpful to have Linus available to pass on his knowledge of the track and set-ups needed.”

Rye House Promoter, Len Silver, added: “ I am over the moon to be able to see our two great favourites (Sundstrom and Woffinden) pitting their skills against each other on the track that they both graced not long ago.

“I am deeply grateful to Rick Frost and Trevor Swales in helping to put this fixture on our list.”