IPSWICH Sackers Witches will be hoping to make it third time lucky when they visit the Eddie Wright Raceway to take on Scunthorpe in a Premier League speedway meeting tonight (start 7.30pm).

They knocked the Scorpions out of the Knock-Out Cup after a replay, but went through because they built up a big lead in the home leg at Foxhall Stadium.

After their victory at Plymouth last Friday, Witches team manager Pete Simmons will be seeking a continuation of that form to help lift his side back into championship contention.

But his Scunthorpe opposite number Richard Hollingsworth has just as big an incentive to do well seeing Ipswich as one of the sides his team can overtake as they look to move up the table.

“Ipswich have dropped two more points than us at home and recorded two more than us on their travels,” said Hollingsworth.

“That is how close we are and it shows how important it is to not only win this meeting but to also claim the bonus point.

“The Witches are a big club and the pre-season favourites for the title but they’ve not really met expectations.

”We’ve defeated them twice by biggish scores in the cup at home but on both occasions they had big leads and couldn’t use tactical rides.

“This time they can’t achieve anything unless they get within six points so sub-consciously they might approach the meeting differently.

“They have a team full of riders who have done well on our track so we need to be prepared for a tough test.”

Mat Tresarrieu will be missing as he has a speedway commitment in Poland that he is required to race in by his French Federation.

The appropriately named Australian Hugh Skidmore, who rides for Sheffield, has been booked as a guest.

Tomorrow night sees Ipswich take part in the Premier League Fours meeting at Beaumont Park, Leicester with Kevin Doolan, Morten Risager, Lasse Bjerre and Chris Mills, who has declared himself fit after overcoming a knee problem, wearing the Witches’ colours.

Last night’s planned league meeting at Foxhall Stadium against Newcastle Diamonds was called off in the early afternoon following a morning of rain, and with more forecast for the afternoon.

Witches’ youngster Taylor Poole could be back in action in a fortnight after being told that he doesn’t need an operation on the hand he broke two weeks ago. Ipswich will utilise the rider replacement facility for him tonight.

Tonight’s programmed line-ups:

Scunthorpe: D Howe, B Wilson, M Palm Toft, T Aarnio, R Hall, T Jorgensen, S Worrall.

Ipswich: K Doolan, Rider replacement, M Risager, H Skidmore, L Bjerre, J Hart, C Mills.