Josh Pickering, said to like Foxhall. Picture Jack Cupido

Josh Pickering could be the ace card for Edinburgh Monarchs at injury-hit Ipswich Witches on Thursday (7.30pm).

The Australian has a liking for the Foxhall circuit and has been picked out by Witches bosses as a real danger man.

The home side track minus German rider Michael Härtel who suffered a broken arm in a long track crash last weekend and Witches don’t know when he will return.

Witches will use rider replacement and Mason Campton comes in as a guest for Monarchs’ injured skipper Erik Riss.

Edinburgh are ninth in the 11-strong table with seven points from five meetings.

Ipswich are seventh with eight points from only four fixtures.
Ritchie Hawkins, Witches’ team manager, said: “It will be a tough meeting against Edinburgh as they have a lot of riders that go well at our place.

“I don’t think they are that happy with the position they are in at the moment.

“They always give us a good run and we will need to be on top of our game.”

Elsewhere, Sheffield Tigers bosses have wielded the axe to kick-start their team.

Broc Nicol and Georgie Wood join the club with Jan Graversen and former Glasgow Tigers rider Jack Smith released.

The changes apply as Sheffield entertain Glasgow in the SGB Championship on Thursday (7.30pm).

American ace Nicol has flown the Atlantic to realise his dream of a professional career in Europe.

And Wood returns. He was one of last season’s title winners.

The Yorkshire club say Graversen has struggled for form and confidence in the main body of the side and unlucky Smith has been released to get the team back under the points limit and for no other reason, according to club bosses.

Misfiring Sheffield are eighth in the 11-strong table with only seven points from six league matches.

Glasgow are third with 16 points from seven fixtures and must fancy their chance of picking up valuable points on the road.

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