Rory Schlein has admitted signing for Ipswich Witches was a ‘no brainer’.

The 32-year-old Darwin-born Aussie ace has been snapped up by the Foxhall side for 2017 and is sure to provide not only plenty of points on track, but plenty of experience to the younger members of the Witches line-up, off it.

Schlein has suffered some bad injuries in the last couple of seasons – a badly broken back in Poland in 2015 that almost paralysed him, followed by a broken shoulder last year.

But with much of that behind him now and rehabilitation going well, Schlein feels that, with a bit of luck, the points will start flooding back – and the Witches will benefit.

“The back is fine now, yes the injury was bad but I came back from it okay. Then I went and done my shoulder,” he said from his Darwin home.

“All I want is a bit of luck and I’m 110% sure I’ll then be able to perform for the Witches and perform well – there is no doubt about that.

“It was great to be wanted by the Witches and having already raced for Chris (Louis) before, it was pretty easy to get the deal done.

“Ipswich is a good club and I always seem to race well at Foxhall, so it was a no brainier as far as I’m concerned.”

Born in the Australian northern territories, Schein came to England in 2001 and has been a virtual ever-present in the United Kingdom each season since.

He won the Elite League Riders’ Championship in both 2011 and 2013 and his pedigree at Championship level, let alone Premiership level, is not in question.

So, what does he think of the Witches line-up of 2017?

“I think the top five looks great and we have some good youngsters at reserve,” he said.

“But we need to do the job on track and I can’t see why we can’t.

“I’m not coming to Ipswich to go through the motions I want the team to succeed and be at the top end of the table and this side has the potential to do that.”

Schlein is currently back in Australia, but is heading back to England later next month to have an operation on the spine he damaged in Poland.

“The operation is nothing to worry about, just to remove the metal work, which is a positive deal for me and will get my flexibility back, so I feel less robotic.

“Then I will start my training camp in January and I can’t wait to get going.”