Oxford Cheetahs will be hoping it is fourth time lucky when they take on Poole Pirates in a Craven Shield clash at the Stadium tonight (7.30), writes John Gaisford.

The rain washed out Saturday's meeting at Eastbourne, the Elite League clash at Peterborough and the Craven Shield tie at Poole on Wednesday.

Not surprisingly, it has created a fixture headache for the promoters, with time running out until the end of the season on October 31.

The Sandy Lane track has had a real dousing this week and a close eye will be kept on the skies around Cowley.

For if tonight's fixture falls prey to the rain, the promoters are in real trouble.

However, looking on the bright side, the sport's biggest crowd-puller, world champion Mark Loram, is the big draw tonight.

The out-an-out racer, who landed the title in Poland in the last round of the Grand Prix, will be in the Pirates side and is sure to get a great welcome.

Oxford will need to show the same resolve they did in beating champions Eastbourne last week to take a healthy lead to Wimborne Road for the second leg. Skipper Steve Johnston, who rode so well last week, but dipped out in the GP Challenge in Germany on Sunday, will be out to show he is the boss once again.

Relieved will be Jimmy Nilsen and Brian Andersen who did get through to next year's GP showdown.