Bosses felt Stellar Monarchs showed a welcome improvement at Poole Pirates in midweek despite being defeated, and everyone needs to be on form when Redcar Bears visit Armadale on Friday (tapes-up 7.30pm).

Bears have made a poor start to the season due to injuries and four early home defeats, but they are at full-strength now and riding well home and away.

Charles Wright and Danny King provide a double spearhead and they boast youthful talent in back-up.

Alex Harkess, Monarchs’ team manager, (pictured left by Nigel Duncan with co-promoter,m John Campbell) said: “Having beaten Scunthorpe and Oxford, who were the top two at the time, at Armadale, we can deal with Redcar who are not that far ahead of us.

“I felt we should have done better in our away match at Redcar, and I was disappointed we didn’t win. I would like to think we will get the three points available to us on Friday.”

Friday’s match will be live streamed on www.edinburghmonarchs.co.uk and the Cab Direct Championship match will be followed by a Northern Junior League fixture between West Lothian Wildcats and Redcar Cubs.

STELLAR MONARCHS: Josh Pickering, Kye Thomson, Lasse Fredriksen, Paco Castagna (captain), Justin Sedgmen, Max James, Connor Coles.

REDCAR BEARS: Charles Wright (captain), Connor Bailey, Dan Gilkes, Jason Edwards, Danny King, Ben Trigger, Jake Mulford.

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