IT'S the big local derby tonight as the Oxford Silver Machine travel to take on Reading Racers in a British League Cup clash at Smallmead (7.30), writes JOHN GAISFORD.

Tonight's clash will be the first for more than five years, the last derby taking place in 1997.

It will also see an emotional homecoming for Racers' former hero Todd Wiltshire, who was their ace in the pack in the late 80s. He was still with the Racers when he suffered a serious spinal injury and retired from the sport before being coaxed out of retirement to join Oxford.

He will relish the return to the normally slick Smallmead circuit where the Silver Machine will be looking for their first victory in the competition.

With Seb Ulamek, Travis McGowan and Jan Staechmann also in their line-up, Oxford should prove just too strong for the home side.

Jernej Kolenko, dropped from the first team, gets another chance to show his paces, while Conference League riders Ricky Scarboro and Darren Andrews complete the visitors' line-up.

The Racers will be banking on former Cheetah Andrew Appleton, who has now found his niche in the Premier League, and exciting young Aussie Scott Smith.

Reading: Morris or rider-replacement, Clews, Davidson, Appleton, Smith, Colvin, Williams.

Oxford: Wiltshire, McGowan, Staechmann, Kolenko, Ulamek, Scarboro, Andrews.