Ipswich Witches take on Coventry Bees tonight (7.30pm) in a Craven Shield fixture at Foxhall stadium.

After their success in last week's opener against Oxford the Suffolk side will be looking for another victory, to give themselves confidence ahead of Monday's opening away fixture at Wolverhampton.

Coventry though will come looking for revenge, as they lost out to the Witches in both the Craven Shield and Knock Out Cup finals last season.

Like Ipswich they have also had to discard a top rider to keep within the dreaded points limit and Grand Prix star Billy Hamill is the unlucky absentee.

The amiable American has been unable to find another English club and will earn his living racing on the continent and in the Grand Prix series this year.

Leading the Bees into action will he Hamill's fellow countryman Greg Hancock.

World Champion in 1997 Hancock is something of a Foxhall track expert and usually scores freely on his visits to the Heath. Speaking yesterday he said "Despite losing Billy we still have a solid side and will come to Ipswich with the intention of causing an upset".

So far this year the Bees have had home and away challenge matches against Wolverhampton, drawing at home on Saturday and then losing at Monmore Green on Monday.

Ipswich will be unchanged from last week's line up with co promoter John Louis saying the side performed as he expected in the opener.

"Chris Louis and Tomasz Gollob provided the potent spearhead that is expected of them this year, whilst the middle order riders all had good races and picked up useful points".

He continued "At reserve new signings Jason Bunyan and Brett Woodfield looked comfortable and the more meetings they have at this level the more confidence they will gain. I think they will do a good job for us this year and hopefully both will score well tonight."

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