JT/FOX Oxford Cheetahs' hopes of clinching the Sky Sports Elite League title at Ipswich Witches last night were washed away when heavy rain left the track waterlogged.

The match, which was due to be featured live on Sky Sports, was called off before a wheel was turned.

With Ipswich having a fixture backlog, no new date has yet been arranged.

It means Cheetahs still require three points to make sure of the title with three matches to go.

And, as they are not due to ride in the league again until October 4 when they visit Ipswich, they could be handed the championship without even taking to the track if Peterborough beat Poole on Tuesday, September 25.

Meanwhile, Cheetahs turn their attention to the Elite League Knockout Cup tonight when when they take on Ipswich in the semi-final first leg at Oxford Stadium.

Cheetahs will definitely be without Todd Wiltshire, who has an injured shoulder, and will be forced to operate rider replacement to cover his rides.

Oxford had to work hard to defeat Eastbourne at the beginning of May in this competition, but the cup is definitely on promoter Vanessa Purchase's shopping list.

She said: "The league title and the Knockout Cup are the two biggest competitions and it would be a lie if I said that I wouldn't like to win both of them."

It was a heroic performance to beat Eastbourne in May, with the Cheetahs having to ride the away leg without the Dryml brothers, Ales or Lukas, who were away on international duty.

With Wiltshire out for the home leg the pressure is on yet again.

Team manager Colin Meredith said: "We seem to have had to use rider replacement a lot this year, so the riders no what to expect and will be keen to put last night's rain-off behind them".

Ipswich are without Chris Louis and have booked Coventry star Andreas Jonsson as a guest.

They have also utilised the rule whereby you can change a team's riding order for cup competitions as they will also be missing Jarek Hampel, and will use rider replacement for him, but at the No 1 position.

Oxford have not changed their order and will be riding as usual.

**Oxford: Andersen, Rider Replacement, L Dryml, Johnston, A Dryml, Adams, Appleton.

Ipswich: Rider Replacement, Jonsson, Boyce, Doncaster, Nicholls, Clouting, Bunyan.