Edinburgh Monarchs face a key Cab Direct Championship clash with Redcar Bears as they return to Armadale for the first time in four weeks.
Two league points are at stake on Friday (tapes-up 7.30pm) plus the aggregate point over the home and away matches with Redcar holding a 49-41 advantage from their home match.
Monarchs should be at full strength while the Bears are missing Ace Pijper, bringing in replacement Vinnie Foord.
The home side are Monarchs are third in the league with Redcar fifth though comparisons are difficult with teams having raced different numbers of matches. Everyone is chasing a top four play-off place.
Alex Harkess, Monarchs’ team manager, said: “It will be very important that our reserves can get something. Redcar have been a bit inconsistent and I believe our numbers one to five are more than capable of winning the match.
“We’ve just got to stop their reserves from keeping them in it. Winning by more than eight to get the bonus point is the target and, if we don’t, I’ll be very disappointed.”
ROSS ECO TECHNOLOGIES MONARCHS: Dan Thompson, Jonatan Grahn, Justin Sedgmen, Paco Castagna (captain), Kye Thomson, Mitch Cluff, Jordy Loftus.
AGILIA BEARS: Nicolai Klindt, Simon Lambert, Jake Mulford, Jason Edwards, Jake Allen (captain), Vinnie Foord, Jody Scott.
On Saturday, Monarchs travel to Ashfield for the first-leg of the Scottish Cup against Glasgow Tigers (7pm). The second leg will be at Armadale in September.
WALKING THE TALK: Monarchs on track before a previous match this season. Picture Nigel Duncan
