The Oxford Silver Machine will be looking to turn the corner following a miserable seven days when they take on derby rivals Swindon Robins in a British League Cup clash at Oxford Stadium tonight (Friday, 7.45).

A controversial postponement against Wolves last Friday, when the track was unfit due to over-watering, followed by defeats at Eastbourne, Belle Vue and Peterborough, will not have done the team confidence any good.

So what better place to start the resurge with a victory over the Robins tonight?

Having seen the track in midweek, I can report it looks back to normal, with the second bend looking very flat and smooth. More shale has been added.

Andy Smith, who bagged an 18-point maximum on his Conference League debut against Carmarthen, leads off the team at No 1, but will find this more competitive.

However, all eyes will be on new Czech Republic signing Lubos Tomicek, who makes his debut after being signed by promoter Nigel Wagstaff earlier in the week.

His family has a long speedway tradition and if he turns out anything like his fellow countryman Lukas Dryml, Wagstaff will be more than happy.

He admits: "My ambition is to bring someone in and see him develop into a world-class rider. It would be a dream come true."

With Nicki Pedersen and Todd Wiltshire away on Grand Prix duty, there's another chance for Jernej Kolenko and Ricky Scarboro to impress.

Swindon won the first leg 48-41, so there's a chance of the bonus point for the Silver Machine tonight.

There's quite a bit of experience in the Robins team, despite the fact that Charlie Gjedde will be missing as he will be one of the wild cards at the Danish GP.

Oxford fans will see the return of Malcolm Holloway, known as 'mad wellie' and a big favourite here over the last 20 years. He comes in for the injured Richie Hawkins, while the in-form Nigel Sadler stands in for Gjedde.

Silver Machine: Smith, Staechmann, Kolenko, Ulamek, McGowan, Tomicek, Scarboro.

Swindon: O Allen, Smith, Neath, Fry, Sadler, T Allen, Holloway.