Hammers v Stars Preview

Lakeside host King’s Lynn at the Arena Essex Raceway tonight in a must win meeting for the Hammers (8.00).

The Purfleet club went down 48-42 at the Adrian Flux Arena on Thursday – but a rare consolation point on their travels kept their play-off hopes alive.

The Vortex Hammers are looking to continue their dominant home form which has seen them lose just once on home shale in 2016.

Club coach Kelvin Tatum said: “The effort from the team on Thursday could not be questioned at all and you could see that they’re desperate to make the play-offs.

“We know that nothing else but three points will be acceptable from tonight’s meeting and if we can do that then it gives us real hope.

“A win would mean Swindon would have to go to Belle Vue in a few weeks time and get a point, otherwise it would all rest on the big showdown between the two of us on September 16.”

Lakeside are at full strength for tonight’s clash with Kim Nilsson back after fulfilling Swedish League duties on Thursday while Ben Morley makes his first appearance of the season since signing in place of injured reserve Robert Mear earlier this week.

King’s Lynn will operate rider replacement for British sensation Robert Lambert, who is competing in the Grand Prix Challenge this weekend, while Robert Branford is drafted in as a guest at reserve for the injured Lewis Rose.

LAKESIDE VORTEX HAMMERS:

Andreas Jonsson, Edward Kennett, Richard Lawson, Lewis Bridger, Kim Nilsson, Ben Morley, Lewis Kerr.

KING’S LYNN:

Niels-Kristian Iversen, Nicklas Porsing, Robert Lambert R/R, Kai Huckenbeck, Troy Batchelor, Robert Branford, Carl Wilkinson.

Image: Kim Nilsson Credit: Anti-clockwise Photography