Last updated at 06:39, Friday, 30 July 2010

WORKINGTON Comets will look to rack up their third successive home victory when they host Glasgow tomorrow.

HE’S BACK: John Branney

The meeting will see former Comet John Branney return to Derwent Park with his new team.

Comets have been in supreme form at home over the last two weeks scoring in excess of 60 points in matches against Somerset and Rye House.

A similar victory against the Scottish outfit could see Comets move into the top four in the premier league.

However, the Comets will have their work cut out against the Tigers who also contain former elite league riders Joe Screen and Travis McGowan in their ranks as well as Branney.

Branney, who was dropped from the Comets line-up in June in favour of American rider Kenny Ingalls, is making his second appearance at Derwent Park since he was replaced. He rode as a guest for Birmingham at the start of the month.

The Workington man: “I am looking forward to coming back but I think the pressure will be off me because I have already ridden here once since I was replaced.

“I don’t feel I have to prove anything coming back here and I feel the fans still support me so I am hoping for a good reception.

“Hopefully I might have an advantage knowing the track quite well and I will be looking to give my team mates some advice in terms of set-up and try to put on a good performance.”

Branney, who is riding at No3 for Glasgow, is settling well into his new team and is hoping the Tigers can win enough matches to qualify for the end-of-season Young Shield.

He said: “It is going really well at Glasgow at the minute and I feel we have a pretty good team that is moving up the league.

“I get on with the management team really well and I am scoring around five to seven points every week which is what I am aiming for.”

Comets will be without Peter Kildemand for their next two meetings with damaged ligaments in his foot after two falls in the Danish U21 championship.

Comets will assess Kildemand’s condition ahead of next weekend’s match against King’s Lynn on August 7.

Meanwhile it was confirmed this week that Comets will not have the chance to defend their Premier League Fours crown next month.

Comets won the event in 2008 and 2009 but their rider averages do not add up to the best eight in the premier league.

It also looks likely that Comets will face Edinburgh in the semi-final of the Knock Out Cup after they beat King’s Lynn 56-34 at the Norfolk Arena on Wednesday night. The second leg at Armadale is on August 6.

First published at 19:28, Thursday, 29 July 2010
Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk