The Parsons Peebles Monarchs begin the hunt for the Championship crown on Friday night when they host Scunthorpe Scorpions (tapes up) 7.30pm.
This will be the first of 36 matches in what is a revamped and re-branded second tier of British speedway.
Scorpions were the team least affected by the changes to team building announced at the British Speedway Promoters Association conference in November.
The septet is built on a strength in depth approach and Monarchs co-promoter Alex Harkess said: “We want to make a good start as it will all be about building confidence at home.
“A year ago we lost our first match at home to Berwick and that was just due to lack of confidence as the riders hadn’t ridden the track enough. This time they have all had a run out and done reasonably well.’
Scorpions are led by an experienced top five with Ryan Douglas, Lewis Kerr, Michael Palm Toft, and particularly Josh Auty and Carl Wilkinson now well-known and experienced at all venues in the division.
The reserves are less experienced but Austrian rider Fritz Wallner will be key if he can score heavily.
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