Oxford Cheetahs are back and swing into action for the first time when they take on big rivals Swindon Robins in an Elite League challenge at the Stadium tonight (7.30pm).

It's been a long winter for promoter Aaron Lanney and the fans. But now, the talking is over and all the action will be centred on the track.

The big draw for fans is the Oxford debut of six-times world champion Tony Rickardsson, despite the counter-attraction of Oxford United just across the way.

Lanney deserves a big turn-out and has been working towards that end ever since he landed the Swede for a six-week contract.

He will take heart that Swindon are the visitors and the Robins will be travelling in their hundreds along the A420 tonight.

Lanney doesn't know what to expect on the opening night. He said: "I look at Swindon and think they have a great side.

"But then I look again, and they are not so formidable. They have Leigh Adams and Lee Richardson.

"They are the big guns, but we have Tony, so it should all be interesting."

Oxford's young riders will be fully tested tonight.

The likes of Eric Andersson, Adam Pietraszko and Lubos Tomicek have the opportunity to impress, but it's sure to take some time before they settle in.

Seasoned pros Adam Skornicki, Davey Watt and skipper David Howe will battle all the way, making for a good meeting.

Apart from Richardson and Adam, the Robins have signed former Oxford favourite Seb Ulamek and he always hits the heights around Sandy Lane.

Another former Oxford rider, Renat Gafurov, should have been in the Swindon side.

But he had to return to Russia to get a visa, suffering the same fate as so many riders including Billy Hamill last year.

American veteran Ronnie Correy steps in for the Russian, which hardly weakens their cause.

Oxford: Howe, Andersson, Watt, Skornicki, Rickardsson, Pietraszko, Lubos Tomicek.

Swindon: Richardson, Korneliussen, Correy, Ulamek, Adams, Miedzinski, Alden.