Ipswich Witches team boss Pete Simmon knows his side face a tough few days ahead.

But if the ‘Sackers’ Witches can pick up a plentiful supply of points, starting tonight at Foxhall Stadium against the Newcastle Diamonds, then their Premier League campaign will have picked up a good head of steam.

Tonight’s visitors from Newcastle are one of the form sides who are currently sitting in the play-off positions, along with the Witches.

Ipswich visit Newcastle on Sunday for the return fixture, with a trip to Berwick for the Suffolk side squeezed in between.

It’s a busy schedule, but one Simmons says his side are capable of coping with. And he wants five points to be the minimum taken from all three meetings.

“Newcastle have had as good a Premier League start as ourselves, so this one is sure to be a tight one,” Simmons said.

“They have been travelling well in 2013, so we must also be at our best to stop them taking any points away from Foxhall.

“With away matches at Berwick and Newcastle this weekend, dropping any points to the Diamonds at home would be tough but keeping our 100% unbeaten home record has to be the main priority when a team as strong as the Diamonds are in town.

“We are more than capable of picking up points away from home ourselves so to end these next three matches with anything less than at least five league points would be disappointing after our bright start to the league campaign.”

The Witches are at full strength tonight, while Newcastle welcome back Andrew Tully to the fold.

He hasn’t ridden a competitive meeting this season since a back injury on press and practice day.

Premier League

Top six

P Pts

Leicester 10 21

Workington 7 15

Redcar 6 14

Newcastle 4 11

Edinburgh 4 11

Ipswich 4 9

Tonight’s teams

Ipswich ‘Sackers’ Witches

1. Ben Barker 9.52, 2. Ritchie Hawkins 4.82, 3. Rohan Tungate 6.46, 4. Morten Risager 6.89, 5. Leigh Lanham © 6.69, 6. Adam Ellis 3.00, 7. Cameron Heeps 4.74

Newcastle Diamonds

1. Stuart Robson © 7.61, 2. Andrew Tully 7.03, 3. Christian Henry 7.21, 4. Ludvig Lindgren 6.94, 5. Richie Worrall 6.61, 6. Steve Worrall 4.24, 7. Lewis Kerr 3.00