Oxford Cheetahs hit the road again tonight, but it's only the short trip to Reading to meet the Bulldogs in an Elite League clash and a first away win of the season would be a major shock if they pulled it off.

It was a chirpy Cheetahs side that celebrated after beating Poole on Thursday, their third win in the last four home meetings.

But it's that away form that has been nagging promoter Aaron Lanney all season.

Oxford picked up their first win of the season when they defeated the Bulldogs 50-44 at Cowley on Good Friday.

But Reading hit back with a vengeance hours later when they won the return match 67-28 at Smallmead that night.

Since then Lanney has rung the changes.

In have come former Reading and Oxford legend Todd Wiltshire, along with former Ipswich and Kings Lynn rider Freddie Eriksson, which gives the Cheetahs a better balanced team.

Since those changes Oxford's progress has been gradual, but they did clock up another home win over Coventry and recently beat bitter-rivals Swindon 47-43 at Cowley. They then followed that up with an impressive 50-43 homewin over Poole Pirates.

Oxford team manager Graeme Gordon has shuffled his pack as a result of the new averages, which sees Adam Skornicki now lining up as the team's second heat-leader behind Wiltshire.

David Howe moves to a second-string position, which has eased the pressure on after struggling to find his best form.

Cheetahs come up against three former Oxford stars in Greg Hancock, Travis McGowan and Charlie Gjedde and the task looks awesome as Reading will probably top the table if they win tonight.

The Bulldogs track the same team that beat Ipswich 57-38 at home last Monday at Smallmead.

Janusz Kolodziej remains on the sidelines with a broken collarbone., so will continue to operate rider-replacement. All the Reading riders are eligible to take an extra ride.

Wiltshire takes over as captain from David Howe.

Reading: Hancock, McGowan, Gjedde, Zagar, Kolodziej (rider-replacement), A Smith, Simota.

Oxford: Wiltshire, Eriksson, Watt, Howe, Skornicki, Tomicek, Andersson.

Oxford Cheetahs David Howe finished on seven points in the British Championship at Belle Vue yesterday. Coventry's Scott Nicholls won the title.