Edinburgh Monarchs v Newport Wasps

This week sees an intriguing Premier League match at Armadale (7.30) when Newport return for their second visit, Edinburgh having run out comfortable winners first time around thanks to a masterly performance from Andrew Tully.

The fixture on 20 May was the one in which Kevin Wolbert fell in heat 1 and withdrew from the rest of the meeting and Kalle Katajisto's absence was covered by rider replacement. The remaining five-man side all rose heroically to the challenge, including reserves Lee Dicken and Byron Bekker.

This time around, Monarchs have super Kalle back in the starting line-up and Kyle Howarth is the change at reserve, while Leigh Lanham returns for Wasps after missing the last match and their top scorer that night, Kyle Legault, is replaced by the Dane with a 6.46 Elite League average, Charlie Gjedde.

In the circumstances, Kevin Wolbert's rides last time brought only one point, so his normal scoring will be a huge bonus for the home side. His opposite number, Jason Doyle tried everything he knew that night but couldn't get the better of Monarchs terrible trio of Tully, Wethers and Cook who all rode like demons.

Kalle is faced at No.2 by the young Australian from Mildura, Justin Sedgmen, who recorded a couple of race wins in his previous very respectable twelve point haul. That included finishing ahead of both Craig Cook and Matthew Wethers in separate heats, so he is definitely one to watch.

Andrew Tully was Monarch of the Match in the first encounter thanks to a magnificent fifteen point maximum in a match when his opposite number Robin Aspergen from Vetlanda in Sweden took a few races to find his feet around the Scotwaste Arena before managing a couple of late second places.

Monarchs captain and new father of baby Ruby, Matthew Wethers, will need to focus all his attention back on the track where he lines up opposite international performer Charlie Gjedde who has immediately upped his Premier League performances after an uncharacteristically lacklustre spell with Berwick.

Craig Cook was only a couple of points shy of perfection during Wasps last visit and Monarchs fans will hope that he can return to that standard against his opposite number Leigh Lanham. The former Hammers rider has bags of Elite League experience and has a liking for Doc Bridgett's track.

Byron Bekker returns to Monarchs colours as a guest replacement for the battered and bruised Tim Webster. The South African got the better of his Australian fellow No.6, Mark Jones in two of their three meetings last time, so a repeat performance would be more than satisfactory.

Kyle Howarth has struggled a bit in recent matches after making a sensational start in the blue and gold but he has the chance to get back among the points against another young Australian at No.7, Todd Kurtz, who scored three points from four rides against the Edinburgh reserves in May.

In summary, Newport are dangerous opponents who managed to keep the scores close throughout the match on their last visit. However they don't have anything like the potency of Glasgow's reserves last week which means that Edinburgh's top five should have a much bigger influence.

This fixture produced one of the best backs-to-the-wall home performances of the season and provided that Monarchs have not been too badly affected by last week's disappointments, they should have the edge. But there's no room for complacency and this should be another cracker of a meeting.

Likely line-ups:

EDINBURGH SCOTWASTE MONARCHS: Kevin Wolbert, Kalle Katajisto, Andrew Tully, Matthew Wethers (capt.), Craig Cook, Byron Bekker (guest), Kyle Howarth.

NEWPORT MIKE MANNING WASPS: Jason Doyle, Justin Sedgmen, Robin Aspegren, Charlie Gjedde, Leigh Lanham (capt.), Mark Jones, Todd Kurtz.