Arena Essex who went out of the cup after losing at Armadale a week last Saturday, are due back in the Lothian Arena on Friday. This time Arena Essex are competing in the Premier League. Edinburgh have already won the away match at Purfleet by 47 points to 43, so any victory will be worth three points.
Despite suffering three big defeats in a row at Armadale, they do have riders who are capable of picking up big scores at Armadale. Their problem recently has been getting enough of them to do it in one match. The Purfleet track is the closest in size and shape to Armadale of any in the Premier League.
Arena Essex make one change in the line-up since their previous visit. Jon Underwood, who was tragically killed in a road accident returning from a continental grasstrack meeting, has been replaced by Justin Elkins. They laso expect to have Savalas Clouting, who missed the Cup trip, to return after injury.
Clouting will make an long anticipated debut at Armadale. He is 24 and is a former British Under-21 champion. He was recently released by home town club Ipswich after 9 years. His Elite League experience of small tracks should enable him to cope with Armadale.
Matt Read had a sensational Armadale debut scoring 9 points paid 11 as a 16 year-old in 1998. He has not been able to repeat that sort of score since. Gary Corbett also impressed at Armadale last year with a score of 9 paid 10. Gary has generally done well at Armadale but struggled in the Cup two weeks ago with an exclusion and a fall. A third youngster to impress at Armadale is 16 year-old Barrie Evans who beat Kevin Little, Ross Brady, Will Beveridge, and Christian Henry in his debut two weeks back. He scored 4 paid 6 from four rides despite suffering an engine failure when second in heat 2.
Colin White and Jan Pedersen have been reliable if unspectacular at Armadale. Justin Elkins can certainly ride the track provided he can keep his bike running for four laps!.
Arena Essex ceratinly could make a match of things if most of their riders hit their best Armadale form in one match rather than taking it in turns.
There is expected to be one minute silence in memory of Jon Underwood before the match.