Giffard normally rides for the Redcar Cubs but will guest for Ben Powell who is currently banned after missing a Diamonds meeting at Glasgow. Despite being down to five riders Newcastle won that match and will fancy their chances on Friday with the inclusion of Topinka. The Czech, who rides for King’s Lynn, steps into the side to cover for his countryman, Josef Franc, who is unable to get to Scunthorpe in time after competing in his national championships this week. The move should certainly help Newcastle improve on their last visit because Franc was a huge disappointment that time and registered just two points from his four rides.


Despite the Diamonds looking a stronger proposition the Scorpions’ Team Manager, Kenny Smith, is still confident his side can register another win in their quest to climb the league table “We probably had our best home meeting when we defeated them last time but we have Viktor (Bergström) in the side on Friday and he was injured the last time they visited. Magnus (Karlsson) only scored six and he has scored double figures in his last three home meetings so hopefully we can make it three wins out of three against my old team.”


The meeting is the first of three in three days and the Scorpions head north on Saturday to face the Workington Comets before moving onto Glasgow on Sunday afternoon. At Workington the Scorpions are faced with using a guest for the first time with Richard Hall competing in a World Long Track Qualifying meeting in France. His place in the line-up will be taken by Sheffield’s Joel Parsons.


Hall returns to the side on Sunday and the meeting at Glasgow perhaps presents the better chance for the side to register an away win. The Tigers have their number one rider Shane Parker out injured along with fellow Australian Josh Grajczonek. Workington’s Kauko Nieminen will face the Scorpions on consecutive nights as he covers for Parker whilst rider replacement will operate for Grajczonek.


The sides for the weekend’s meetings are:


Scorpions – 1. Andrew Moore, 2. Carl Wilkinson, 3. Magnus Karlsson, 4. Benji Compton, 5. Richard Hall (Joel Parsons at Workington), 6. Viktor Bergström, 7.Byron Bekker


Newcastle – 1. Tomas Topinka, 2. Dan Giffard, 3. Rider replacement for George Stancl, 4. Jason King, 5.Christian Henry, 6. Jamie Robertson, 7. Sean Stoddart


Workington (expected line-up) – 1. Daniel Nermark, 2. Rider replacement for Barry Burchatt, 3. Kauko Nieminen, 4. Charles Wright, 5. Carl Stonehewer, 6. Joe Haines, 7. John Branney


Glasgow – 1. Trent Leverington, 2. rider replacement for Josh Grajczonek, 3. Kauko Nieminen, 4. Lee Dicken, 5. Robert Ksiezak, 6. Mitchell Davey, 7. Ross Brady