STOKE host Kent Kings in the Travel Plus National League at Loomer Road on Saturday (7pm) night hoping to gain the three points on offer having already lost twice to the Kings this season.

The Kings have already dumped the Potters out of the KO Cup this season and have won at Loomer Road 51-37 this year and they will be looking to cement their place in the play-offs as they are currently third in the league table while the Potters are currently ninth and adrift of their nearest rivals Isle of Wight who are eighth 12 points ahead of them having ridden six more matches then the Loomer Road outfit.

The Potters once again bring in Belle Vue’s Tom Perry as a guest for Tony Atkin, Perry was unbeaten in last weeks curtailed fixture against Coventry, while the Potters will also use rider replacement for the unavailable Adam Extance. Stoke give a debut to Arran Butcher who has signed as a replacement for local youngster Joe Alcock who is out injured with a broken collarbone and is likely to miss the rest of the season.

Kent will be without new number 1 Paul Hurry and have to use an unattached three-point rider in Jamie Couzins. Hurry signed earlier this week and has not ridden for the club and therefore there in no facility for the Kings. Jack Thomas and Nathan Stoneman will therefore lead the charge for the Kings who have been in good form recently and those two will be well supported by Taylor Hampshire and Anders Rowe. Former Potter William O’Keefe rides at reserve for the Kings while Alex Spooner who has been in impressive form recently completes the Kings line-up.

Stoke team manager Malcolm Vasey commented “We need to push on from last week and start getting some points on the board in the league and hopefully we can improve on last week’s draw against Coventry. Tom Perry again steps in as a guest for us and we are delighted to have him back here this week and I feel we should have the edge on Saturday night. Kent are a good side although they have been hampered with having to use Jamie Couzins at number one in place of Paul Hurry, but we will not be taking anything for granted and will be working hard right from the start in order to get three points on the board.”

STOKE: Tom Perry, Adam Extance R/R, Rob Shuttleworth, David Wallinger, Max Clegg, Arran Butcher, Paul Burnett
KENT: Jamie Couzins, Taylor Hampshire, Nathan Stoneman, Anders Rowe, Jack Thomas, William O’Keefe, Alex Spooner