SPEEDWAY: Steve Johnston is geared up and ready to make an impact for Ipswich Evening Star Witches in their Sky Sports Elite League fixture at Peterborough tonight.

STEVE Johnston is geared up and ready to make an impact for Ipswich Evening Star Witches in their Sky Sports Elite League fixture at Peterborough tonight (start 7.30 pm).

The Oxford skipper is guesting for injured Ipswich captain Chris Louis, and he has an engine that he thinks will be just right for the occasion.

"I used it at Foxhall Stadium in the Lawrence Hare meeting last Thursday," said Johnston. "And it went well in the following night's league match against Ipswich at our place.

"It needed a little tinkering, but by my last race it was spot on. I enjoy riding for Ipswich and hopefully I can play my part in an away win.

"I am riding full of confidence right now, and can't wait to get in the saddle again."

Extrovert Australian Johnston will need to be at his best as the Panthers look strong at home these days and they beat fancied Wolverhampton at the East of England showground on Friday.

Piotr Protasiewicz has proved a wise capture as the Pole loves the big Peterborough circuit and with Ryan Sullivan provides a strong spearhead.

Ipswich will use the rider replacement facility to cover for Joonas Kylmakorpi who is likely to be out for up to six weeks with a compressed vertebra. Jeremy Doncaster and the two reserves will get extra rides.

Scott Nicholls has been the model of consistency this season, and he will go into the match somewhat refreshed as he had no Polish League commitments this weekend.

Ipswich have no home meeting this Thursday, with their next action at Foxhall Stadium a league match against Wolves on June 13. The British Grand Prix takes place at Cardiff this Saturday with Nicholls riding and hundreds of Witches fans expected to travel to the Millennium Stadium.

Tonight's line-ups -

Peterborough: R Sullivan, S Parker, H Clausen, S Tesar, P Protasiewicz, C Harris, M Zetterstrom.

Ipswich: S Johnston, J Doncaster, C Boyce, rider replacement, S Nicholls, L Lanham, C Slabon.