The Witches compete in the higher British Elite League, while the Stars compete in the Premier League.

But team manager Rob Lyon is confident the Stars can still pull off a win.

He said: "This is a really interesting inter-league match up.

"Two years back we did a pretty similar thing against the Peterborough Panthers and we only lost by two points, this time round I would hope we can pull off a win".

This is the first time in more than five years that the Stars and Witches have met each other in track action. It is a rivalry that has been missed by the fans and management alike.

"This is the perfect way to get our season underway," said promoter Jonathan Chapman. "We are competing for the East Anglian Trophy over two legs.

For the away leg on Thursday we have drafted in the services of ex-World Champion, Jason Crump.

"Hopefully this will give us just enough power to win on aggregate."

Keith "Buster" Chapman is the man who hopes he can get one over his old foe, John Louis: "It will be great to see the Witches again, I have missed giving "Little Legs" Louis a load of stick," he laughed.

"I'll never forget the day Shane Parker jumped in his tractor on the centre green after an incident.

"He couldn't get it in gear so I ran over to help him and then from the side I got rugby tackled by Louis and their clerk of the course. There were some fireworks that day!"

The good news for Lynn fans is that their two missing Australians Kevin Doolan and Kozza Smith have arrived on British shores, so the Stars will field a full team at home.

The Ipswich team will also be complete and includes the much-loved Steve Johnston and Stars fans' favourite guest, Chris Schramm.
Stars: 1 Tomas Topinka, 2 Shaun Tacey, 3 Kevin Doolan, 4 Kozza Smith, 5 Rusty Harrison, 6 John Oliver, 7 Simon Lambert.

Witches: 1 Robert Miskoviak, 2 Piotr Swiderski, 3 Chris Louis, 4 Steve Johnston, 5 Jarek Hampel, 6 Tobi Kroner, 7 Chris Schramm.

Lynn have a proud recent record, numbering various league titles, trebles and cup doubles in the past few years.

On his side's title and cup prospects, team boss Rob Lyon said: "I feel quite confident that we can win more silverware.

"We're fairly solid-looking. Like anything, the more you win, then people want more.

"It's a record we want to keep going, and everything we're going in for we're looking to win.

"Every team will be saying this, but if we keep these riders having no major problems, I can see no reason why we're not there or thereabouts.

"The seven riders we've got have as good a team spirit than we've ever had.

"There are about eight teams looking to be pretty-strong, Lynn among them."

Additionally, this year has the carrot of an automatic promotion prospect to the Elite League.

Lyon added: "We were close to going Elite League this year. I think it's a great opportunity to try to make the step up.

"It would be good for everyone at the club, provided it's financially OK.

"It's always a concern about the financial side, but the powers that be wouldn't have agreed to it in the first place if there wasn't an uncentive in place.

"With them reducing the Elite League points limit to 38.5, technically it should bring the leagues closer together, so there's not such a huge gap."