SWINDON boss Alun Rossiter believes tonight’s challenge meeting first leg against Somerset will be far from a one-sided affair.

There is traditionally a marked gap in quality between top and second-tier sides, but Rossiter insists changes in the Robins and Rebels line-ups should mean competitive racing at Blunsdon tonight and the Oak Tree Arena tomorrow.

Neither side has access to doubling-up Aussie Jason Doyle as he is still out of the country due to visa issues, so in the absence of their number one, Somerset have called upon the prodigious talent of two-time World Under-21 Champion Darcy Ward.

Also guesting for the Premier League side is Ward’s fellow countryman Davey Watt, and Rossiter expects the duo to give the visitors plenty of firepower for this evening’s showdown.

He said: “Darcy Ward is one of the most exciting talents around and both him and Watty are going to get over 10, so it’s not going to be a walkover.

“Masters rides for Poole and as an ex-Swindon rider, James Wright knows his way around the Abbey, and if all the others chip in then it will be tough or us.

“Having said that, if all the boys perform then we should be OK.

“Hopefully people will give the team their support, and I think the signs from the riders that rode in the Bob Kilby Memorial are that it all looks very exciting.”

The only other team news of note from Somerset’s side is that Kyle Newman and Tom Perry are to share the number seven berth.

For the Robins, Seb Alden has been excused from the meeting due to his hectic schedule with Berwick, so reserve Peter Kildemand goes in at number four.

His spot in the bottom two is taken by Kenny Ingalls, who rides alongside Robin Aspegren.

Rossiter added that problems with the starting gates had been addressed in the wake of the Bob Kilby Memorial Trophy.

Saturday’s rain resulted in gates one and four having a huge advantage throughout the meeting, but the team boss says the Blunsdon track staff have now corrected this.

He added: “Credit goes to the track staff for getting Sunday’s meeting on at all.”