It won't quite be daggers drawn, but the atmosphere should be pretty electric when high-flying JT/Fox Oxford Cheetahs travel to take on title rivals Poole Pirates in a vital Elite League clash at Wimborne Road tonight (7.30pm).

Poole skipper Gary Havelock vented his anger in The Sun on Saturday, saying Oxford were taking full advantage of Lukas Dryml's injury and should not be allowed to have guests who, in his mind, were far better riders than the Czech Republic star.

He even called for the BSPA to look into the matter because Oxford might run away with the league championship, thus avoiding a tight finish at the end of the season.

His outburst has certainly got right up the noses of the Cheetahs fans judging by the reaction on the club's website, and the terraces should be a lively place at Wimborne Road where a crowd in excess of 4,000 is expected for the visit of the league leaders.

Lukas Dryml Ironically, the man in the centre of the controversy, Lukas Dryml, could be back for his first action in a Cheetahs jacket since that horrifying crash at King's Lynn which left Peter Karlsson with a broken thigh and Dryml with knee tendon and ligament injuries on May 30.

Dryml has since missed ten meetings, during which time Cheetahs have won nine and drawn one.

It's likely to be a last-minute decision taken by the Czech youngster himself who is anxious to get some speedway behind him before taking in the World Under 21 final at Peterborough a week on Sunday.

Cheetahs promoter Vanessa Purchase said: "Lukas had a spin after the meeting last Wednesday and was reported sore on the Thursday morning. If he decides not to ride, we will go in with rider-replacement.

"The boys are hungry and up for this one. We drew there last time and I see no reason why we can't do it again."

Oxford need to win or draw to take the bonus point. If Poole reach 47 points, they take all three points and will go top of the table on points difference, although Cheetahs still have four matches in hand.

The Pirates' chances won't have been helped by the absence of their two Polish stars Krzysztof Cegeilski and Greg Walasek, who are firing on all cylinders at home. They are engaged in the Polish championships and Martin Dugard, who did such a good job for Cheetahs last week, and Matej Ferjan come in as guests.

Poole: Havelock, Gunnestad, Dugard, Zetterstrom, Rickardsson, Ferjan, Watson.

Oxford: Wiltshire, Andersen, L Dryml or rider/replacement, A Dryml, L Adams, Appleton, Johnston.