WEYMOUTH Wildcats will be looking to restore some pride when they roar into local derby action for the second week running against the homeless Exeter Falcons at the Wessex Stadium tonight (7.15pm).

The Doonans Wildcats are keen to bounce back in style after suffering two successive Conference Trophy defeats against the Plymouth Devils last week.

The last time they lost to the Falcons was in 1983 in the National League Cup final.

Jem Dicken, away team manager of the Wildcats, said: "It was always going to be tough against a strong Devils side and yet again our away meeting curse decided to join us on our relatively short trip to Plymouth's St Boniface Arena.

"In the first heat Nathan Irwin snapped a spark plug while in second place, something that no one in the pits had ever previously witnessed. And in heat two Terry Day, who has been on top form recently, decided three quarters of a lap was enough before hitting the fence and then retiring from the meeting on medical grounds.

"Lee Smart then touched the tapes and was placed off 15 metres in the third but managed to peg back Tom Brown, who laid his bike down, due to team-mate Dan Blake locking up in front of him. However, Lee was then excluded as the cause of Tom's dismount."

The return leg against the Devils took place at the Wessex Stadium last Saturday and it was far more evenly contested with a last heat decider that eventually went the way of the visitors.

Wildcats' commercial director Robin Spicer said: "We had our best crowd so far this year and the atmosphere was buzzing.

"The Plymouth fans were fantastic and were treated to some spectacular races and hopefully many will return this season."

One man that did not fire in the second leg was Wildcats' skipper David Mason who claimed only five paid one. The talented rider will no doubt be looking to regain some form tonight.

Weymouth will make one change to their line-up with George Piper coming in at number six, replacing Adam Filmer who will guest for the Falcons alongside fellow Wildcat Jamie Westacott.

Falcons' owner Allen Trump, who is forging ahead with plans to see his team back on track by 2008, said: "Everything has now been submitted to Teignbridge Council apart from the ecology report which, because of the bird survey, can't be finished until the middle of August.

"Hopefully once it's sent, it will then just be a question of waiting for the decision, which we hope will be an approval.

"The key to running next season is an early decision.

"As you know from your experiences at Weymouth the planning process can drag on and, bearing in mind that at best we will only have six months to put the track and surroundings in, we really do need a decision as soon as possible.

"The other problem, which I know Phil Bartlett (Wildcats' chairman) has struggled with as well, is getting a decent team together when most riders are fixed up."

Wildcats: 1 D Mason, 2 Irwin, 3 Smart, 4 Hurst, 5 K Mason, 6 Piper, 7 Day.

Falcons: 1 Fry, 2 Smith, 3 Gomez, 4 Westacott, 5 Cross, 6 Pickard, 7 Filmer.

Fans will get an added bonus tonight when former Weymouth star Lewis Bridger takes to the track after the meeting. The Elite League rider, who is now with Eastbourne, is looking forward to reacquainting himself with the Wessex Stadium circuit and the Wildcats' fans.