SOMETHING has to give when Gresham Oxford Cheetahs clash with Poole Pirates in an Elite League speedway encounter at the Stadium tonight (7.30pm).

Neither side has so far picked up any league points, and for Cheetahs it's a great chance to get their season under way.

They welcome back Jason Crump after his flu bug, and there will also be a big welcome for British Final third Paul Hurry on his return to Cowley.

Steve Johnston, who has just started to come good said: "Everyone has been very patient at Oxford. They have been good to me and it's about time I repaid their faith with some good scores. I don't like letting people down."

Poole, who crashed heavily at home to Swindon on Wednesday, will be looking to former Oxford riders Marvyn Cox, Mark Lemon and Craig Boyce to end their dismal spell.

All three know the Cowley circuit inside out and, add Australian grand prix star Ryan Sullivan, and it will need a top form Cheetahs to keep them at bay.

Lawrence Hare will be looking to pick up the pieces after he struggled on his British final debut, but if Hurry and Johnston ride to their potential alongside the consistent Crump, victory could be there for theirs for the taking.

Oxford: Crump, Staechmann, Johnston, Hurry, Schofield, Hare.

Poole: Boyce, Cox, Sullivan, Gunnestad, Lemon, Zetterstrom.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.