RONNIE Russell has backed Justin Sedgmen to make a big impression on Swindon’s Elite League clash with Peterborough tonight, after the young Aussie provided his boss with the “perfect bank holiday present”.

The 18-year-old got his top flight career off to a nightmare start last month when he scored just paid two as the Robins crashed away at Lakeside.

But Sedgmen was given the chance to guest for Ipswich on Monday and grabbed it with both hands, showing just why he is such a highly-rated prospect.

The man from Down Under will line up at number six this evening with Thomas H. Jonasson suspended, as Swindon take on the Panthers at the Abbey Stadium, and team boss Russell is confident the rookie will shine.

“Justin had his first ever Elite League appearance at Lakeside the other week, and it wasn’t a great night for him,” he told the Advertiser.

“I was worried it would affect him, that it would really dent his confidence and that maybe we had put him in too early. Rather than get knocked by it, he came back, learnt from it and used it as the experience it is meant to be.

“Since then he has gone and guested for Ipswich on Monday, top scored with paid 13 and got rider of the night. He is full of confidence now and that can only be good for us. It’s ideal and couldn’t have come at a better time.

“You worry when another team ask to use your rider as a guest, especially when it’s someone like Justin who could be exposed again. But we had nothing to worry about as he was superb, and gave me the perfect bank holiday present.

“He was happy with the way he rode so he can’t wait for Thursday and wants to prove that he can perform like that for us.”

Peterborough are strongly tipped to challenge for honours this season, and have put together an impressive line-up including the likes of Niels-Kristian Iversen, Kenneth Bjerre and former Robins rider Troy Batchelor. But Russell has challenged his troops to go toe-to-toe with the Panthers and lift themselves up the Elite League table.

“Peterborough are one of the two sides predicted to be in the top two,” explained the boss. “They’ve got a really strong line-up because they’ve got more to play with.

“When you put a side together we have a massive average to deal with in Leigh Adams. And while he is fantastic for the team, it makes you more vulnerable as you go through the side.

“Niels-Kristian Iversen is their number one and a good solid rider but is a couple of points lower in his average than Leigh.

“Troy Batchelor will want to prove that we were wrong to let him go, and I believe Kenneth is one of the finest Danish riders around.

“They are all good riders and Peterborough’s strength is spread across their team. But we’ve got to look to match that right across the order.

“It’s a really tough race followed by another tough one on Monday (against Coventry), and they are of massive importance to us. If we can get a couple of wins, and maximum three-point hauls with it, then we could jump right up the league into something like fifth place.

“Psychologically that is huge, and people have to be able to see that we are in with a shout of challenging this year.”

Meanwhile, Swindon’s Elite League B fixture at Wolverhampton has been rearranged for Monday, September 6. The A fixture at Wolves, which was postponed on March 29, will now be held on Monday, July 12.

  • JORDAN Frampton is also in action tonight as he takes his place in the first British semi-final at Sheffield.

The top eight riders from the Owlerton event progress to the British Final at Wolverhampton next month.