SPEEDWAY: Ipswich ‘Sackers’ Witches have two home meetings in six days – starting tonight with a clash at Foxhall against Scunthorpe – that could define their Premier League season.

With two cup semi-finals already in the bag, the Witches got their league season back on track, after two home defeats, with a win at Redcar last week.

However, tonight they face a strong Scunthorpe team that include guest Rene Bach (who notched a 15-point maximum for Workington recently), Australian Nick Morris and English star Josh Auty.

And if tonight wasn’t tough enough, the Witches face a Sky TV audience next Tuesday, with high-flying Somerset the visitors to Foxhall.

“I think it is fair to say that after these next two home meetings, we will know a lot more about ourselves,” director of speedway Chris Louis said.

“These are vital meetings and we just can’t afford to drop any more home points.

“It was no disgrace losing to a good Workington side, although the manner we lost was unacceptable, but we should not have lost to Rye House. Our recent form is good but we haven’t kicked back sides to make the difference, we’ve just assured the riders they’re good enough.

“I look at the team and still say we are as strong as any team in the league.”

And the Witches are going to need to be good enough tonight.

Bach, guesting for the injured David Howe, is in great form and although Morris hasn’t really kick-started his season yet since his move from Elite League Swindon Robins, Auty is another riding well.

“I think it’s fair to say the choice of Bach as a guest shows their intentions,” Louis added.

“Scunthorpe clearly mean business and this is going to be a tough one for us.”

The Witches have made the decision to ride tonight, rather than their usual Thursday night, so as not to clash with the World Cup Race-Off in Sweden, which is being televised tomorrow and now includes Great Britain, after they lost out to Australia in Event Two, on Monday.

Gary Irving is set to take his place in the Scunthorpe team after his move from Workington, which will see Stefan Nielsen lose his team place with the Scorpions. However Irving’s move won’t take effect until tomorrow.

Tonight’s teams

Ipswich: L Lanham, R Tungate, K Doolan, M Risager, D North, M Tresarrieu, C Heeps.

Scunthorpe: R Bach, T Jorgensen, N Morris, M Palm-Toft, J Auty, S Nielsen, A Birks.

n DO you think the Witches can win the Premier League, or any of the cups they are still in? Let us know, mike.bacon@archant.co.uk. Or write to us, Star Sport Letters, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich IP4 1AN.