Berwick Bandits are at full strength as they begin one of the biggest weeks in their recent history.
Next week sees the historical cup giant-killers meet Poole – who they beat to win the trophy in 1989 – in their first semi-final for 21 years.
But first they entertain table-topping Scunthorpe Scorpions at Shielfield Park on Saturday (7pm) looking to extend their 100 per cent home record.
Jordan Jenkins, signed as short-term injury cover for Reid Battye, made a dream debut with 13 points in last week’s narrow victory over Glasgow.
With Battye pencilling in the first week of July to return from a fractured vertebrae, another big performance from the 24-year-old could give the Berwick management a selection headache as they chase glory on three fronts.
Peter Kildemand returned from injury against the Tigers and scored 15 points in breath-taking fashion, continuing his fine form in the Premiership earlier in the week with nine points for Belle Vue.
Scunthorpe are led by big-scoring former Edinburgh Monarchs rider Josh Pickering but they are without Luke Harrison who is one of four Great Britain teenagers, including Redcar’s Jody Scott, looking to qualify for the European under-19 Championship final. Buxton’s Alfie Bowtell guests.
Stewart Dickson, Berwick’s team manager, said: “Everyone at the club is excited by the cup semi-final but we also need to get more points on the board in the Championship.
“Scunthorpe have already won at Redcar and drawn at Edinburgh and we know what Josh Pickering and Connor Mountain in particular are capable of around Shielfield.
“There’s a couple more riders with limited experience around here so they are unknown quantities. But really it is a question of every Berwick rider concentrating on doing their own job.
“As long as that happens the result will come. Then we can think about Poole on Wednesday.”
Elsewhere, Glasgow Tigers’ racer Freddy Hodder has vowed to “knuckle down” and make sure his heroics aren’t a one hit wonder.
The 20-year-old romped to a paid 12-point maximum to steer the Allied Vehicles Tigers to a crucial win at Oxford, now his side can go top of the Cab Direct Championship if they win at Workington on Saturday.
Hodder wants his incredible display to be a springboard to more positive results for him and the team.
He said: “I know I can do it and my performance at Oxford proves that. This season has been really frustrating for me, it’s been hard mentally and on the bike.
“The plan that this isn’t just a one-off. I need to take this confidence into Workington on Saturday.
“I just want this to carry on. I’m not going to get a maximum every time but I want more points and consistency.
“It’s my first-ever maximum in my professional career and it’s a big achievement for me.
“The main thing now is not to get ahead of myself. It’s about making sure I knuckle down again with more positive results at the weekend.
“I want to enjoy my racing a bit more now. I think I have found something that is good and working.”
The Tigers went up to fourth with the victory over the Cheetahs. Although they will have raced more meetings, the club will leapfrog Poole at the top of the table with a win in Cumbria.
Hodder added: “It’s good to win away from home and the team needed that as well.
“It’s a shame we haven’t had a great start to the season. Our league form is really important now. Hopefully now we are all finding a hot spot and we can keep it going.”
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