THE Somerset Rebels will be hoping for better weather tonight when they welcome the Workington Comets to the Oaktree Arena for a Premier League clash.

It will be the second time this season that the Cumbrian side will have visited the Oaktree Arena, with the first being in the second leg of the Knockout Cup as Somerset overcame a 16-point first leg deficit to win the return fixture on home shale by 30 points.

Somerset will be without Nick Morris who is required to ride for Swindon, his Elite League club, and will use Stuart Robson as a guest replacement at number one as cover for Morris’ enforced absence.

But they are hopeful that Pontus Aspgren will have recovered sufficiently from his broken hand to make a return to the side.

Should Aspgren not be fit to resume his place in the team then Somerset will operate the rider replacement facility for the Swede – the only option available to the Rebels.

Somerset team manager Garry May said: “Despite having already beaten Workington at the Oaktree this season by 30 points, that counts for nothing come Friday night and we cannot, and will not, take anything for granted.

“Funnily enough, we rode that Knockout Cup match against Workington without Nick, and Stuart Robson guested for us on that occasion, and we are without Nick again for this league match with the Comets, and have booked Stuart again as a guest replacement.

“Stuart always gives 100% as a guest rider and I know he will do a great job for us against a Workington side that I am sure will be looking to avenge that heavy Knockout Cup defeat here back in May.”