IPSWICH Evening Star Witches were checking with Paul Hurry today to see if he can ride in the British League Cup at King's Lynn tonight (start 7.0pm).Danny Bird is a big doubt after seizing an engine in the pits at Peterborough last night.

By Elvin King

IPSWICH Evening Star Witches were checking with Paul Hurry today to see if he can ride in the British League Cup at King's Lynn tonight (start 7.0pm).

Danny Bird is a big doubt after seizing an engine in the pits at Peterborough last night.

He is running short of machinery and is also battling against a knock on the knee he suffered at Foxhall Stadium on Thursday.

Hurry is resting a painful hand after he aggravated the injury when making an abortive attempt at a comeback at Coventry last Monday.

If Hurry is not fit enough, Ipswich will probably have to use junior Matthew Wright if Bird is ruled out.

Witches promoter John Louis had no complaints after last night's defeat at Peterborough. He said: "I had a gut feeling before the start that the Peterborough heat leaders would win the match.

"This is a special track and you need to have the right set-up.

"And track knowledge is so important. The top three of Peterborough knew the lines and our lads were always in danger of being passed after making the start.

"It was a good match, and at the end of the day Peterborough deserved their success."

Tonight's likely line-ups - King's Lynn: T Topinka, A Allott, D Watt, Dn Mallett, rider replacement, J Brundle, T Harding.

Ipswich: C Slabon, TP Madsen, D Nermark, K Jansson, D Bird, D King, B Howe.