Edinburgh Preview
Posted 04/05/06

Tigers start what should be a busy weekend, weather permitting, with tomorrow evening's visit to Armadale for the return leg of the Premier Trophy. It is important for both sides to try and claim all 3 points tomorrow night to keep any hopes of qualification alive and Tigers have a tough task holding only a 5 point lead from last Sunday's meeting.

Even early in the season, Edinburgh look to be a very strong team at home with 5 of their team currently averaging over 6 at home, three of them over 8.

Theo Pijper was in today's Scottish Press stating that he intends to beat the track record at Armadale on Friday. That may seem a little unrealistic but he has been in good form at home, gating well. Monarchs have a very strong middle order with Matt Wethers and Will Lawson riding at 3 and 4 and Lawson in particular has impressed.

Following a shaky start, Henrik Moller seems to be coping better with the UK tracks and is certainly a different rider round his home track from that seen in the Spring Trophy meeting in March. Harrison has struggled recently due to ill health.

Derek Sneddon is averaging 8 at home at reserve and he will be re-joined at reserve by Sean Stoddart who has received a reprieve following John Oliver's decision not to join the monarchs. It will be his second meeting back having ridden last Friday when he scored and rode better than he had done in previous meetings.

Once again Glasgow may struggle in the middle order with Lee Dicken and David McAllan up against riders with a much higher average. Kauko and Shane will be flying in from Sweden for this one and both will hope to continue their fine form with a good points tally. Danny will need to be on the ball with his gating tomorrow and will probably find that his main threat will be from Pijper rather than Moller. At reserve, both should do relatively well although it would be a surprise if either were to lower Sneddon's colours. Robert Ksiezak has however shown considerable improvement this season and does have the advantage of knowing the Armadale track pretty well.

With only a 5 point lead from Sunday's first leg, the odds are stacked against Glasgow but it is not beyond the Tigers.

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