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HAMMERS welcome back their number one rider Andreas Jonsson for Friday's Elite League meeting with Peterborough at the Arena-Essex Raceway.

The Grand Prix star has been missing for a couple of weeks after sustaining hand and wrist injuries in a crash at Belle Vue and without the Swede, the side has struggled to look convincing, particularly at home where they have looked vulnerable in the latter stages of a meeting.

Co-promoter Jon Cook is eagerly anticipating Jonsson's return. "It's been evident that we need him, he's a significant presence both on and off track," he said.

"Poole ran us very close last week after we had been 14 points to the good at one stage and if they had got a 5-1 in the last heat, they would have taken the match points.

"Having AJ back should give us the stability that we've been missing. Our guests did well for us and we thank them for their efforts but we need Andreas back to spearhead our side."

It will be the second visit of the season for the Panthers who were soundly whipped by the Hammers in the Craven Shield match in March with Jonsson showing imperious form on a rain-soaked track to return a 15-point maximum.

The visitors will be looking to Hans Andersen, Kenneth Bjerre and Morten Risager to lead their challenge and who all won races in the previous meeting while back-up will be provided by Danny King and Sam Simota who have both produced big scores at Purfleet in the past and the team is completed by Panthers newcomers Henrik Moller and Claus Vissing.

Team Manager Trevor Swales has issued notice that he expects his team to be a different proposition tonight.

"The riders can have no excuses about being rusty this time and I expect them to step up and put on a good show, they need to do this not only for themselves but for the supporters as well," he stated.

"We certainly need some results away from home and I think we have the riders to do it."

Meanwhile Co-Promoter Mick Bratley also declared his expectations of his side: "We had our backsides well and truly spanked in the Craven Shield fixture and it was not a nice feeling; it was almost embarrassing and I truly felt sorry for our supporters who had made the trip.

"It is certainly not something that I want to see repeated.

"Collectively we were all dreadful that night, and surely that can not happen again. I know conditions were far from ideal in March, but it's far too easy to blame personal performances on the conditions in my opinion, they are after all the same for both sides.

"If we don't win on Friday, I at least want to travel back home with the knowledge that we had a right good go' at them."

Apart from the 58-35 victory over the Panthers, the Hammers home form in officialo fixtures has been indifferent although only Ipswich have left with the points.

"That was on the opening meeting of the season on Good Friday when the Witches produced a shock 40-52 victory whilst Cook's men have produced 50-45 and 48-45 results to beat Swindon and Poole respectively.

Teams (Green Sheet Averages in Brackets): Lakeside - Andreas Jonsson (8.35), Joonas Kylmakorpi (6.12), Adam Shields Captain (7.40), Leigh Lanham (5.05), Jonas Davidsson (5.07), Ricky Kling (3.49), Lubos Tomicek (3.37).

Team Manager Jon Cook.

Peterborough - Hans Andersen Captain (9.91), Sam Simota (4.44), Kenneth Bjerre (7.90), Morten Risager (4.95), Danny King (5.69), Claus Vissing (3.00), Henrik Moller (3.00).

2:56pm Thursday 17th April 2008

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