Berwick Bandits, already minus Jordan Jenkins for the trip to Edinburgh Monarchs on Friday (7.30pm), have been dealt a second blow with their play-off hopes on the line.
The Borders club have now lost their No 1, Peter Kildemand, who has been riding through the pain of a rib injury picked up in a Danish league match.
Further falls have left him with leg injuries which force him out of the action at Armadale. Redcar’s Jason Edwards guests at No 1 with Oxford’s Dayle Wood filling in for Jenkins.
Berwick are also still awaiting a final decision on the fitness of Nick Morris who crashed heavily while riding for Leicester Lions at Northampton on Monday.
An ankle injury kept him out of the Lions’ Premiership trip to Ipswich on Thursday but, with guest options severely limited by the other three Cab Direct Championship fixtures, Berwick bosses are hoping that the in-form Australian – who scored a 15-point maximum guesting for Glasgow at Edinburgh two weeks’ ago – can ride.
Bandits need to win all of their three remaining fixtures – home and away against the Monarchs and Saturday’s visit of Redar to Shielfield Park – if they are to pip Edinburgh for the fourth and final play-off place.
Stewart Dickson, Berwick’s team manager, admitted: “It isn’t ideal preparation for such an important weekend but, whoever lines-up for the Bandits in the fixtures, the mission is a simple one. Maximum points.
“It is our last opportunity to reach the play-offs. Only we can make it happen.”
Edinburgh also have a guest with Ben Whalley replacing Jordy Loftus who is sidelined after suffering concussion and they also have a doubt over No 1 Dan Thompson who was injured alongside Morris in a crash at Northampton.
CROCKED: Peter Kildemand photographed by Keith Hamblin
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