King's Lynn after three in a row.

Having defeated local rivals Ipswich in the last two matches staged at the Norfolk Arena, the Silver Machine Knights go for the hat-trick against the Oxford J.T. Commercials Fox FM Cheetahs tonight.

Steve and Vanessa Purchase have turned the University city club's fortunes around since taking over the reins and they deserved their league success last year for their unstinting efforts in doing so.

Whilst retaining the title in 2002 is going to be a difficult task, the Cheetahs have the advantage of retaining no less than six of last year's league winning side. Yes back from last season are the Czech Republican brothers Ales and Lukas Dryml, skipper Steve Johnston, Brian Andersen, Andrew Appleton and a certain guy by the name of Leigh Adams - King's Lynn's former captain!

The only change made during the winter was to bring back Aussie Mark Lemon in place of fellow Australian Todd Wiltshire in order to comply with both the 45 point limit and the new GP rider rule.

Despite the above, the Cheetah's haven't had the best of starts to the new league campaign having been hit hard by injuries and illness in similar fashion to King's Lynn.

Currently there is a doubt over Ales Dryml who has been sidelined with a shoulder injury but Brian Andersen (who was an excellent guest for us at Belle Vue) has declared himself fit for tonight, having recently been admitted to hospital with an infected elbow.

Prior to that recent spell in hospital, "The Axeman", as Brian Andersen was nicknamed during his long spell at Coventry, was back to the sort of form that led many to tip him as a potential world champion before a succession of shoulder injuries blighted his career.

Ales Dryml hasn't quite hit the heights as yet over here in Britain but with brother Lukas goading him on, certainly has the ability to become a high points scorer in the Sky Sports Elite League. Lukas has already done that and, of course, is in this year's GP series having negotiated his way through last year's qualifying rounds despite a serious knee injury.

The extrovert Cheetahs skipper Steve 'Johnno' Johnston, revels in his responsibility as club captain and he rides the King's Lynn track very well indeed.

The faith shown in retaining young Andrew Appleton should, in time, pay dividends. The former Newport Wasp, given time, certainly has the ability to succeed.

And another who deserves to succeed is winter recruit (or rather returnee to Sandy Lane) Mark Lemon for the Aussie has been so unlucky throughout his career with injuries but just keeps plugging away.

And, finally, what can you say about Leigh Adams that has not been said already? Putting aside all the controversy that surrounded his decision to leave King's Lynn and sign for Oxford the winter before last, the man did a fantastic job in his spell for the Knights. He set the tone for Oxford's title challenge last year, as we always knew he would, and it is good to see him back even if he's riding in opposition colours.

King's Lynn have something of a score to settle tomorrow for in last year's corresponding fixture, the Cheetahs pinched a 46-44 victory in a match that will be remembered for the heat 8 crash involving Peter Karlsson and Lukas Dryml.

Although losing the latter in that heat 8 pile up, Oxford's match winner on the night proved to be his elder brother Ales who racked up a 13 point tally from seven rides including four heat wins.

He had good support from Leigh Adams (12+1) and Todd Wiltshire (10) as the Silver Machine Knights struggled to come to terms with the body blow of losing Karlsson after just two rides.

In the end, the Knights couldn't quite cope with that body blow despite double figure returns from both Jason Crump and Nicki Pedersen.

Last year's corresponding match:

Wednesday, May 30, 2001: Kings Lynn 44 - 46 Oxford (Elite League A)

Scorers:

King's Lynn: Jason Crump 14; Nicki Pedersen 12+1; Freddie Eriksson 5+3; Tom P Madsen 4+3; Niklas Klingberg 4+1; Peter Karlsson 3; Brett Woodifield 2.

Oxford: Ales Dryml 13; Leigh Adams 12+1; Todd Wiltshire 10; Lukas Dryml 6; Steve Johnston 3+2; Brian Andersen 3+1; Andrew Appleton 0.

Provisional teams for tonight:

Knights:
1 Nicki Pedersen (C); 2 Tom P Madsen; 3 Travis McGowan (r/r); 4 Artur Pietrzyk; 5 Seb Ulamek; 6 Freddie Eriksson and Emil Kramer. Manager: Nigel Wagstaff
Cheetahs:
1 Brian Andersen; 2 Ales Dryml (if fit); 3 Lukas Dryml; 4 Steve Johnston (C); 5 Leigh Adams; 6 Andrew Appleton and 7 Mark Lemon. Manager: Colin Meredith

Away at Peterborough next:

0n Friday King's Lynn travel the 35 miles or so to Peterborough for the return of last Saturday's epic match at the Norfolk arena.