PETERBOROUGH co-boss Trevor Swales has stressed the importance of taking maximum points at home ahead of tonight’s big Elite League clash with Coventry (7.30pm).

PETERBOROUGH co-boss Trevor Swales has stressed the importance of taking maximum points at home ahead of tonight’s big Elite League clash with Coventry (7.30pm).

The Readypower Panthers go into their final fixture before the World Cup break seeking to improve on recent Showground displays, and Swales says it’s vital that the hard work of the early-season away displays isn’t wasted.

Panthers won at King’s Lynn and collected points for narrow away defeats on three occasions by mid-April, but they were then beaten at home by Poole and also dropped a point against bottom club Belle Vue in their last outing a fortnight ago.

Swales said: “We picked up several points away from home in the early weeks of the season but we mustn’t allow that hard work to be wiped out by losing here at the Showground. We can’t afford to drop many more points here.

“So on Thursday it quite simply has to be a case of 100 per cent effort and commitment, and three points are required, but nobody will be under-estimating Coventry.

“We have no doubts that we’re good enough to beat them, but any team led by Chris Harris and Scott Nicholls has to be respected.”

Panthers operate the rider-replacement facility for Krzysztof Buczkowski who is involved in the Polish Championship semi-finals, but fellow countryman Norbert Kosciuch is available and could have a key part to play with extra rides available for him at reserve.

Coventry, who are now owned by former Peterborough promoter Mick Horton who remains locally-based, have Nicholls back from a broken collarbone, and also use rider-replacement to cover for their absent doubling-up riders Aaron Summers and Leigh Lanham.

At reserve for the Bees, Henning Bager has plenty of Showground experience from his time with the Panthers, whilst Adam Roynon was initially declared in the Peterborough squad of 2010 before having to be ruled out of the club’s plans due to the regulations.

PETERBOROUGH: Kenneth Bjerre, Krzysztof Buczkowski R/R, Michael Jepsen Jensen, Linus Sundstrom, Olly Allen, Richard Lawson, Norbert Kosciuch.

COVENTRY: Edward Kennett, Aaron Summers R/R, Chris Harris, Kenni Larsen, Scott Nicholls, Adam Roynon, Henning Bager.