PETERBOROUGH Panthers boss Trevor Swales has warned Ipswich to expect it “deep and grippy” at Alwalton tonight.The two sides clash this evening in a top-of-the-table meeting, with Ipswich still hurting from a heavy defeat at Peterborough last month on a very heavy track surface.

By Mike Bacon

PETERBOROUGH Panthers boss Trevor Swales has warned Ipswich to expect it “deep and grippy” at Alwalton tonight.

The two sides clash this evening in a top-of-the-table meeting, with Ipswich still hurting from a heavy defeat at Peterborough last month on a very heavy track surface.

But Swales promised the Witches more of the same tonight and told them to stop moaning and to get on with it.

“If Ipswich thought it was grippy last time, they haven't seen anything yet,” Swales said.

“All I read from John Louis is moan, moan, moan - about our track, the way it is prepared and all the rest of the stuff. Just get on with it, I say to him, and stop moaning.

“If he thought there was too much shale on it last time, he is in for a surprise on Thursday, because there will be even more. It will be very deep and grippy.”

Swales' comments may be a bit tongue in cheek, but certainly the Witches, Chris Louis and Robert Miskowiak in particular, were all at sea the last time Ipswich travelled to the Panthers. Then they lost 55-38 and Louis and Miskowiak failed to score a point.

Both Peterborough and Ipswich have been in the top four play-off positions all season, but with the top two gaining home advantage in those play-offs, jockeying for positions is vital.

Ipswich will be without Pepe Protasiewicz tonight as he is riding in the Polish Championship final, in a competition Miskowiak was knocked out of at the semi-final stage.

The Witches have been trying to obtain a guest, with Ales Dryml and Todd Wiltshire top of the list after a stream of phone calls has seen many riders unable to accept. If no guest can be obtained, Ipswich will use the rider replacement facility.

The Panthers have been hit badly by injury, with Jesper B Jensen out with a broken collarbone and flying reserve Karol Zabik, who was supposed to be riding in the Polish Championships with Protasiewicz, out with food poisoning.

New Panthers boss Colin Horton has not been afraid to ring the changes this season and the latest man who seemingly needs to up his game is Ulrich Ostergaard.

Former Witches star Hans Andersen is in sublime form at the moment and he will be celebrating his Danish GP victory before the start of tonight's meeting.

Peterborough are still very strong, but nowhere near as strong as if Jensen and Zabik were available.