WEYMOUTH Weyline Wildcats are gearing up for a crunch National League basement battle against the King’s Lynn Young Stars tonight (7.15pm).

The Radipole Lane outfit have been anchored to the foot of the standings all season but a third successive victory at the Wessex Raceway would see them leapfrog their opponents.

Owing to the Mildenhall Fen Tigers’ sudden withdrawal from the league, which has seen their results expunged, the table has been rejigged.

And the upshot is that the Wild-cats could climb as high as eighth spot, depending on how the Scun-thorpe Saints fare against the Isle of Wight Islanders this evening.

Chairman and caretaker-manager Phil Bartlett has talked up his side’s chances and also acknowledged the influence of loan star Adam McKinna.

He told Echosport: “I’m confident we can maintain our good home form now that we have a full complement of riders and we should be able to move up the table.

“Adam has been a great help to us with Terry Day still out injured.

Adam was flexible but it is nice to know he is willing to stay here for the rest of the season if that is what is needed.

“I still don’t know when Terry will be back but he has been signed off work for another two weeks. Adam wants to get back into the Premier League eventually and riding well for us puts him in the shop window.”

Weymouth succumbed to a 47-43 defeat to the Young Stars at Saddlebow Road in May, but were forced to use the rider-replacement facility for Tom Brown.

However, with McKinna having made a seamless transition from the Newcastle Diamonds, the Cats are at full strength and looking to continue their impressive recent displays on home shale.

The Young Stars, meanwhile, will be without Darren Mallett and Cal McDade, who are heading north to Edinburgh with their parent team.

Jake Knight has been promoted from reserve to deputise for McDade, while the visitors – spearheaded by Simon Lambert – will employ rider-replacement to cover for Mallett.

Wildcats: 1 Bekker, 2 McKinna, 3 Brown, 4 Cottham, 5 Cockle, 6 Andrews, 7 Chessell.

Young Stars: 1 Lambert, 2 R/R Mallett, 3 Campos, 4 Knight, 5 Lowe, 6 Kerr, 7 Widman.

* Byron Bekker and James Cockle will represent the Wildcats in the National League Best Pairs at Newport tomorrow (2.30pm).