Glasgow Tigers v Edinburgh Monarchs

"Our last match of 2007 was against Glasgow at Ashfield in the second leg of the Scottish Cup and we head back to the same venue on Sunday for our first match of the 2008 campaign.

This time the competition is for the Spring Trophy (so named because it resembles a spring on a plinth - nothing to do with the season!) and, unusually for head to head matches against the Tigers, we race the first leg away from home.

But what a change from the respective line-ups on that Sunday five months ago. Missing from that occasion from the Monarchs line up are George Stancl, Kai Laukkanen, Daniel Gifford (riding in place of Daniele Tessari) and Arlo Bugeja (riding in place of Kalle Katajisto). From the Glasgow line up that day, gone are Gary Havelock (who was controversially allowed to replace Craig Watson, injured in the first part of a double header with Redcar), David McAllan, Jason Lyons (who was replacing the injured Shane Parker) and Michael Coles.

Indeed the two sides have received major surgery from last season?s squads. Edinburgh have replaced Stancl and Laukkanen with Ryan Fisher and Thomas Jonasson both new to Premier League racing as the top two heat leaders. William Lawson makes a welcome return to the fold as does Aaron Summers who made a few appearances for us at reserve last year during his brief visit from Australia last summer. This has meant cheerio meantime to Daniele Tessari and Kalle Katajisto who remain Monarchs? assets however.

Glasgow have a most unusual look this year. They still have Shane Parker to lead the side but there is no second ?big hitter? with Craig Watson returning to Newport. Gone too are David McAllan, due to his unfortunate injuries sustained in the match against Birmingham at the end of last season, and Michael Coles who announced his retirement also at the end of last season. Instead the Tigers have opted for two young comparatively unknown Australian riders who both come in on 5 point averages. They are Mitchell Davey and Josh Grajczonek.

The big doubt about the season?s opener at Ashfield is whether it will be on. The riders were unable to take to the track on Wednesday on their Press and Practice day due to the state of the track and with some more horrendous weather forecast will there be sufficient time to get the track into shape? If it does go ahead it looks as though Glasgow will line up with Shane Parker spearheading the team for the first time at number 1 rather than his favoured number 3 position. He rides with Ross Brady who will be hoping he can put behind him some indifferent performances in the last two seasons with Rye House and Newcastle. No doubt the idea is that Ross can recover his fast gating technique and Shane Parker can ?protect? him from coming under pressure. Trent Leverington and Mitchell Davey make up the second pairing at 3 and 4. This means that young Davey will be under immense pressure in the main body of the team riding at the crucial number 4 position with so little experience. Robert Ksiezak is at number 5 moving from second string to heat leader and he will be partnered by Lee Dicken and Josh Grajczonek as the third pairing.

The Monarchs will probably have Ryan Fisher and Derek Sneddon as the top pairing with Thomas Jonasson at number 3 partnered by either William Lawson or Matthew Wethers. Either Lawson or Wethers will be at five with Andrew Tully and Aaron Summers as reserve partners forming the third pairing. Even Glasgow fans would probably admit that the Tigers? team this season lacks the cutting edge of previous sides and theirs is a high risk strategy which may take some time to evaluate. Certainly the tail looks long and while the heat leader strength may be adequate at Ashfield it could be found wanting on away tracks.

The Monarchs look to have assembled a very impressive 1-7 but again there are ?ifs? and buts?. Big things are expected of Ryan Fisher who looks fit and determined and young Thomas Jonasson who could be the sensation of the league if reports we?ve had are accurate. There don?t seem to be any weaknesses down the line with the side particularly with an engine room of Wethers, Lawson and Sneddon. Even at reserve Edinburgh could well have one of the best reserve pairings in the league with Tully and Summers.

As for Sunday?s match - anything could happen. With riders still trying to wipe off the cobwebs and get their machinery to the optimum settings on what looks like being a heavy and rough track predictions are pure guesswork. Let?s hope no unnecessary risks are taken in what is after all just a warm up challenge match. Still it would be nice to come away with a win nonetheless and who?s to say we won?t achieve it? Here?s hoping for a better day weatherwise than we?ve had and some entertaining speedway.