PETERBOROUGH are forced into several changes for Monday’s Premiership trip to Wolverhampton.
The Crendon Panthers will travel to Monmore Green without three of their regular riders due to a combination of injuries and International commitments.
Skipper Hans Andersen attempted a comeback from his shoulder-blade injury in the Grand Prix qualifier at Glasgow on Saturday – but had to withdraw after just two rides.
Andersen said: “It was just too soon for my shoulder and arm, not enough strength to hold on and therefore I pulled up in my second ride and called it a day.”
Meanwhile Josh Bates remains on the sidelines following his crash at Leicester last month, confirming to boss Carl Johnson on Saturday night that he is still not fit, whilst Charles Wright is in Abensberg, Germany to compete in the final GP qualifier.
Panthers operate rider-replacement for Andersen and No.1 whilst two former Peterborough riders, Michael Palm Toft and Paul Starke, guest for Wright and Bates respectively.
They face a Wolves side on a run of four successive defeats, three of which have ironically coincided with their team changes to return to their initial line-up after early injuries.
Jacob Thorssell and Nick Morris are now back in the side, so Panthers star Scott Nicholls makes a rapid return to Monmore after starting the season in Wolves colours as a stand-in for Thorssell.
Nicholls top-scored with 13+1 in Thursday’s 41-49 defeat at Ipswich, a meeting in which Peterborough went frustratingly close to securing a league point following on from their terrific win at Poole one week earlier.
Said Nicholls: “We won’t let our heads go down, we’ve got to roll on. We’ve got Monday to do so we’ll go there in a positive frame of mind and see if we can come away with all the points.”
Panthers also travel to Belle Vue in another Premiership fixture on Thursday, before returning to the East of England Arena to face Swindon on June 20.
WOLVERHAMPTON: Sam Masters, Kyle Howarth, Jacob Thorssell, Nick Morris, Rory Schlein, Ashley Morris, Luke Becker. PETERBOROUGH: Hans Andersen R/R, Paul Starke, Scott Nicholls, Michael Palm Toft, Rohan Tungate, Aaron Summers, Bradley Wilson-Dean.