Edinburgh will, weather and fuel crisis permitting, finish off their away programme this week. They are due at Hull on Wednesday and Sheffield on Thursday before returning to Armadale on Friday when Stoke are the visitors. This should leave only the rearranged fixture against Exeter still to race in the Premier League.
Monarchs are virtually certain of a top-eight position. Edinburgh are currently on 31 points. Newcastle and Newport, both currently outside the top-eight can hit 32 points if they win all remaining matches and pick up every bonus point on offer. While it is unlikely that Newcastle will win at Swindon and even more unlikely that Newport will win at Stoke and Workington, Monarchs still need two more points to be sure.
Those two points could be won on the road although to gain anything from Hull and Sheffield. Monarchs defend a 2-point lead over Hull going to New Craven Park and a 14-point lead over Sheffield. Past results suggest that Monarchs have an outside chance of a result at Hull but will be struggling at Sheffield.
There have been suggestions that Peter Carr might miss one or more of the matches after taking a very nasty fall at Sheffield in the Premier League Riders Championships.
Hull have their own injury worries with both reserves picking up knocks last week. Jamie Smith has obviously made a quick recovery judging by his 18-point maximum at Ashfield for Somerset Rebels last Sunday. Mike Smith could be out for a while if early reports are correct. This will be a major blow for Hull as he is currently averaging not far short of six points and he can only be replaced by a Conference League rider if unfit. Monarchs have a number of hard luck stories at Hull since the Viking returned to action in 1995. They lost 49-47 in 1995 after conceding a last heat 5-1. Since then they have lost a couple of matches by 46-44 including this year's Premier National Trophy fixture. Maybe Monarchs are due a result at Hull? Maybe it will be this week? Maybe not.
Sheffield will be a much tougher proposition. Monarchs have a number of real drubbings at the big Owlerton track. They have a 46-44 win to their credit in 1997 but since then the best performance has been a 50-39 defeat earlier this year in the Premiership. A repeat performance would do nicely and would ensure Edinburgh the bonus point.
Stoke are the visitors to Armadale this Friday. They have usually been regarded as easy opposition by Monarchs. Indeed the highly controversial 47-46 reverse at Loomer Road was the first time Edinburgh had failed to beat Stoke in the Premier League since 1997. Last year Monarchs racked up their biggest win of the season against Stoke by 65 points to 25. The current Stoke team are not likely to be pushovers with David Walsh, Paul Pickering, Mark Burrows, Tony Atkin and new signing René Madsen in the team. They have recently signed up Scot Steven McAllister to fill a reserve place.
Like Monarchs, Stoke need a few points to secure a Young Shield place. They have, at times, proved suspect at home but have impressed away from home with wins at Swindon (in the Premier National Trophy), Hull (in a challenge match), Newcastle (twice), and Berwick.
Walsh is always a good Armadale performer, Pickering is less consistent, but if Stoke can ride to their potential they can give Monarchs a match.
TEAMS FOR THE PREMIER LEAGUE MATCH AT ARMADALE on Friday 15th September (start time 7.30 pm, gates open 6.30 pm) are:
EDINBURGH FORTH AM MONARCHS: Robert Eriksson, Blair Scott, Peter Carr (capt.), Ross Brady, Kevin Little, Will Beveridge, Christian Henry.
STOKE POTTERS: Paul Pickering, Mark Burrows, David Walsh, Tony Atkin, Rene Madsen, Wayne Broadhurst, Steven McAllister.
Score updates for the Stoke match will be provided on Armadale Live as usual.