PETERBOROUGH host the decisive fixture in the play-off race when they take on Leicester in another potential cracker at the East of England Arena on Thursday.
The visitors have been locked in a fight with Ipswich for fourth place in the league table, and they go into their final meeting outside the top four on race points difference to the Witches, who have completed their schedule.
That means Leicester have to score at the Showground in order to make the play-offs, and their initial target will therefore be 34 points – which would be enough to take the aggregate point regardless of victory on the night.
The Crendon Panthers, however, are flying high after their recent hat-trick of home wins, and are keen to do their own job and put a spanner in the works for their opponents.
Another victory would also ensure that the wooden spoon will not be coming back to Alwalton this season, as it would take Panthers beyond the total achievable by King’s Lynn, whose only meeting remaining is at Peterborough on a date to be confirmed.
Panthers are awaiting confirmation on the fitness of Niels-Kristian Iversen, who missed Monday’s win over Sheffield – but boss Rob Lyon has juggled his riding order on a precautionary basis, moving Iversen to No.2 in case the rider replacement facility is required.
Meanwhile skipper Chris Harris moves to No.5 and Artem Laguta is expected to race despite the ankle knock he sustained on Monday.
For Leicester, captain Max Fricke scored a 15-point maximum at Wolverhampton on Monday as the Lions drew 45-45 after 15 races, and Fricke then combined with Richard Lawson to pick up a crucial extra league point in a Super Heat.
Former Panthers rider Richie Worrall is set to miss out having been deemed unfit to race when he was due to appear at Plymouth on Tuesday, and the Lions will operate rider replacement.
Lyon said: “As I said right from a few weeks ago, now we’ve got this team we want to make the most of it, and get a real feel-good factor.
“We want to finish on a high for the team, for the fans, the sponsors and the promotion – that’s what it’s all about now, and so far that’s proving to be the case.
“We need to win the meeting, and that’s our first priority. We’re 24 points down for the aggregate so it’s a big ask to get that, and we know what Leicester will be coming for, but we’ll be trying hard.”
PETERBOROUGH: Artem Laguta, Niels-Kristian Iversen (or r/r), Vadim Tarasenko, Benjamin Basso, Chris Harris, Ben Cook, Jordan Jenkins. LEICESTER: Max Fricke, Justin Sedgmen, Lewis Kerr, Richie Worrall r/r, Richard Lawson, Jake Allen, Drew Kemp.
*PETERBOROUGH Speedway are delighted to be supported by Crendon Timber as team sponsors and City Auction Group and PurpleRock as club sponsors.