Over the three years of the existance of the current Premier League, Berwick Bandits have usually started out with a weak team but strengthened up considerably in mid-season to end up with a handy team.
In 1998, for example, they recruited James Grieves, Martin Dixon, Scott Robson, and David Walsh mid-season and became one of that select group of three visiting teams to win at Armadale along with Newcastle and Peterborough. In fact they inflicted Monarchs' biggest ever Armadale defeat. Last year they brought in Claus Kristensen, Alan Mogridge, and Mick Powell to produce a powerful team by the latter part of the season.
This year, however, the Bandits have managed to put together a strong line-up first time out. Berwick's heat leader trio of Paul Bentley, Scott Lamb and Scott Smith don't seem anything special but the presence of Alan Mogridge and David Meldrum at second string gives them a very strong top five. Berwick have inexperienced reserves in Freddie Stephenson and Steven McAllister, but Freddie is capable of scoring points at Shielfield if he stays on his bike.
Many have suggested that Berwick will take over this year from Sheffield as the strongest home side in the Premier League. So far they have had a big win over Newcastle by 53 points to 36 only to lose the return by 56 points to 34. Subsequently they have slaughtered Glasgow by 60 points to 30.
Monarchs travel to Berwick on Saturday night to attempt to dent that impressive home record. As a minimum, Edinburgh will be looking to keep the scores tight enough to take the aggregate match bonus point.
Monarchs' captain Peter Carr believes that Monarchs have the riders to give Berwick a run for it, but added "We simply must make the starts. If you aren't in the first two out of the second corner, the stones from the track can really hurt, and I find it very dark on the corners."
Robert Eriksson made the same comment regarding the lighting after finishing second in the individual event which opened the Bandits season.
Berwick will be looking for results this weekend to keep themselves in contention after losing out on the bonus point to Newcastle.
They will be looking for a win against Monarchs before travelling to Ashfield to take on Glasgow in the return match.
Berwick will almost certainly take the bonus point from Glasgow given their 30-point lead but may fancy their chances of an away win especially with Ashfield expert Paul Bentley at number one and with Tigers so far failing to show consistency.
Glasgow captain, James Grieves, commented:
"At the moment, the team are not firing on all cylinders, but I think it is only a matter of time before that occurs. Some of the boys are going well some of the time, but we are only 3 matches into the season and I am sure that consistency will come. Les and Aidan are going well and progressing nicely, it is now up to the rest of us to match their level of consistency and when we do, we will start to win our fair share of matches."
Glasgow will use have Mark Blackwell standing in for Scott Courtney on Sunday.