Ipswich Witches Aussie star Rory Schlein says the Witches are ‘as strong as at the start of the season’, now the team has a full complement of riders once more.

Schlein and the Witches have endured a tough start to the 2017 campaign with injuries to key riders.

Kyle Newman was out before he even rode one meeting for the Witches after a shoulder injury, while Nico Covatti and Danyon Hume both have long-term wrist and arm breaks.

It has meant a big re-shuffle of the team by team bosses Chris Louis and Ritchie Hawkins.

But Schlein is very upbeat as regards the outcome of the changes.

“Listen, on paper at the start of the season, we were one of the favourites,” he said.

“We all got on well from the start, but we never got going because of injuries.

“I think Chris and Ritchie have done a great job in the replacements they have brought in and I think the team as strong as at the start of the season.

“Justin Sedgmen is an Elite League rider and I race at Wolves with Nathan Greaves. He has been in really good form.

“Hopefully we can now start afresh. We are still third in the table. Our win at Berwick with a patched-up team was a big boost.

“If we can go to places like Berwick and win and keep our home record intact as we have, and I don’t think we have been firing on all cylinders yet, then that’s great.”

A positive influence off-track, Schlein has been in fine form this season for the Witches and he and the Suffolk side will hope to keep their 100% home form going tonight when they entertain Scunthorpe Scorpions at Foxhall Stadium, 7.30pm.

New-boy Greaves is certainly looking forward to making his debut.

“I know Rory (Schlein) from riding at Wolves and I have been around long enough now to know all the boys there,” he said.

“Ipswich are always a side near the top of the league and are always successful and that is what I want to be a part of and I can’t wait.”

Greaves finished fourth in the British U-21 final at Poole recently – the meeting in which Hume was injured.

“I really can’t wait for Thursday and I want to make a good impression and help us get the win that will take us joint top of the league,” Greaves added.