TAYLOR Poole returns to the Ipswich Witches line-up tonight determined to get straight down to business.

The 20-year-old Aussie has recovered from the broken arm sustained in the opening night meeting against Rye House and replaces captain Kevin Doolan at No.4 in the Witches line-up.

“I’m ready to race and I don’t want the injury to be any excuse,” he said.

“That’s why I didn’t want to come back too early in case I wasn’t ready.

“I’ve been racing all my life, so the only thing I think I may be a bit off with are my reflexes at the starts, but hopefully not.”

Poole could have gone back to Australia to recharge his batteries for next season, such was the severity of his injury, but he never fancied that.

“I didn’t want to go home because I know all the Aussie boys would have flown in at the end of the English season and be ready to race in Oz.

“I didn’t want to be behind them.”

Replacing Doolan has been a worry for Poole who admits his former skipper was ‘his favourite rider in the team’.

But Doolan has shown his class by contacting Poole and telling him to go out and race, there are no hard feelings.

“I was sad to replace Kevin, because he has been so good to me since I came to Ipswich. And I’ve spoken to him since he was dropped from the team, there are no hard feelings,” Poole added.

Tonight the Witches face a Bandits side they ruthlessly hammered at Berwick a couple of weeks ago to put the Borders team out of the KO Cup, although the Witches only won the home tie by six points.

Since then Berwick have strengthened up with the inclusion of Robin Aspregen, and with Seb Alden riding especially well could cause a surprise or two.

Teams

Ipswich: L Lanham, M Risager, D North, T Poole, R Tungate, M Tresarrieu, C Heeps.

Berwick: R Ashworth, D Bellego, L Complin, R Aspregen, S Alden, R Branford, K Jakobsen.

TONIGHT and throughout the summer, children aged 6-15 go free to Foxhall when accompanied by a paying adult.

THE Witches have announced their League Cup semi-final dates with Workington. The home leg will be on Thursday, September 20, with the away leg two nights later in Cumbria.