BEN Barker is set to return to the Birmingham line-up for their league trip to Ipswich on Thursday (July 24, 7.30pm).
The 37-year-old has been off the bike for almost three weeks after requiring emergency surgery on his appendix.
But he is making his comeback for Plymouth tonight (Wednesday) for their second tier meeting at Oxford.
If all goes to plan, Barker will then return to the No.6 position for the Curtis Sport Brummies to face his former club.
Keynan Rew is another ex-Witches racer and he is keen to focus on what’s left to come after Monday’s disappointing 47-43 home defeat at the hands of Oxford.
“We know Ipswich is going to be tough and we know our chances are going to be overlooked,” Rew said.
“But that’s when I think the meetings are better when we have no pressure and we go and do what we can do.
“The result at the end of the night is what it is but hopefully all of the boys can have a good night, keep it somewhat close or nip a win – we’ll see what happens!
“It’s definitely about trying to give the supporters something, and of course Nigel (Tolley – CEO) because he puts in a lot of hard work here and I feel like the results haven’t really been what he wants this year and it would be good to give him a few good results to send it out and like I say, for the supporters as well.”
The Brummies will once again come up against Jason Edwards as their former Rising Star makes his official Ipswich debut after signing a 28-day deal with the Witches.
IPSWICH: Jason Doyle, Danny King, Adam Ellis, Tom Brennan, Emil Sayfutdinov, Dan Thompson, Jason Edwards.
BIRMINGHAM: Tobiasz Musielak, Paco Castagna, Jonas Jeppesen, Keynan Rew, Matej Zagar, Ben Barker, Sam Hagon.
