Having won at Brough Park on Friday, Monarchs face Newcastle in the return at Armadale on Friday. A win will give Edinburgh three points to edge themselves closer to qualification.
Monarchs unviel a revised racing order forced on them by the new Green Sheet Averages. Ross Brady steps up to heat leader and takes the number five race jacket. Kevin Little moves to second string to ride at number two in a very powerful pairing with Robert Eriksson. Blair Scott moves to number four to partner Peter Carr. David McAllan makes a surprise return at number six.
David was repuded to have intended to practise for a couple of weeks and have a few Conference League outings before returning to contention for a team place. Given the problems that Monarchs have had with the number six position, and the departure of Brian Turner, David decided to give things a try on Friday.
The Eriksson/Little pairing looks very powerful as does the Carr/Scott middle pairing. The decision to put Ross Brady with the reserves is a bold one. If Ross can start to produce his form from the end of last year and can hold his own, it could pay off big time. The current race order will almost certainly have to be revised as this weekend is the cut-off point for the Green Sheets that become effective at the start of next month. Brady will by then have a 2000 average and is likely to be replaced by Little at heat leader.
Newcastle will send a depleted team. Jesper Olsen was injured in Denmark and is replaced by Armadale specialist Martin Dixon. Grant MacDonald is on his way to the World Under-21 Quarter Final and rider replacement will operate. Dixon scored a maximum for Long Eaton at Armadale in 1997 and guested for Monarchs in the away leg at Newcastle on Sunday.
Newcastle always provide stiff opposition at Armadale. Monarchs have lost five times in competitive action at Armadale since the track opened in 1997. Three of those defeats have been at the hands of Newcastle. Newcastle also had a draw at Armadale chalked off in 1997 after it was found that Glyn Taylor had inadvertently used an illegal tyre for his last two rides.
While the absence of Jesper Olsen, the ultimate Armadale specialist will ceratinly blunt the Diamonds' cutting edge, they will not be dismissed lightly. Bjarne Pedersen is sure to make an impact and Stuart Swales is a very handy Armadale performer. Martin Dixon will get one of Grant MacDonald's rides along with Will Beveridge, and the reserves.
Monarchs should complete their away Premier National Trophy matches next week when they have a Yorkshire mini-tour to Hull on Wednesday and Sheffield on Thursday. They then face Sheffield a week on Friday and Hull a week later at Armadale.
Monarchs need to take the bonus points off both Hull and Sheffield to have any chance of qualification alongside Workington. Realistically they may need another away win. Hull would provide the best chance of this. As things stand, Edinburgh have ost once at home to Workington whereas Sheffield beat Workington at Owlerton. Edinburgh do have an away win while Sheffield have lost their tree away matches to date. If Sheffield can win at Hull and Newcastle, there is not a lot Edinburgh can do save winning at Owlerton. Hull could emerge as surprise contenders themselves if they get a result off Sheffield in the two matches this Wednesday and Thursday. Carl Stonehewer will guest for Hull against his former team in place of Gary Stead. Things may be a little clearer by the end of the week.
Premier National Trophy Results
Premier National Trophy League Tables