Palm Toft back for Peterborough Panthers, but two British Champions will be missing

British Champion Charles Wright has to sit out the meeting as he suffered concussion in a crash at Redcar last Friday, which carries a mandatory nine-day absence.

Meanwhile Scott Nicholls, a former national champion, has been handed a seven-day ban for his non-appearance at the Championship Riders’ Individual on Sunday, when he was due to represent Leicester.

Nicholls missed the meeting due to a back problem, but as this was a non-speedway injury the suspension has been imposed.

Former Panthers rider Michael Palm Toft will guest for Nicholls against the Aces on Thursday, with rider-replacement in operation for Wright which enables all other team members to take a ride. Palm Toft’s King’s Lynn side are the only Premiership club not racing on Thursday.

Manager Carl Johnson said: “It’s frustrating again to be without riders, but there’s nothing we can do about it.

“The suspension for Scott after missing Sheffield on Sunday is an automatic one, like when a rider misses a meeting due to illness – it’s just a shame that it’s us who suffer for it!

“The ban expires on Saturday so he’s available for the Swindon match next Monday, and Charles will be as well – I’ve spoken to him today and he’s fine, but again the nine-day absence is mandatory.

“But I’m sure Tofty can do a good job for us on Thursday, he’s in decent form and hopefully we can give everyone a boost with a good performance.”