THE Somerset Rebels will be without Australian rider Brady Kurtz when they take on the Peterborough Panthers at the Oaktree Arena tomorrow night (Friday).

The 17-year-old faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines having broken his upper arm coming together with Ipswich Witches’ Richie Worrall in heat 15 of last Friday’s home match.

Somerset are aiming for a quick double over Peterborough, having beaten the Panthers on Sunday on their East of England Showground shale, but the Cambridgeshire side will point to the fact that they are the only unbeaten visitors to the Oaktree Arena this season – the two sides drew 45-45 in April’s League Cup encounter at the Oaktree.

Somerset promoter Debbie Hancock said: “We’ve decided to use the rider replacement facility to cover Brady’s absence for the remainder of the season or until he’s fit to return, rather than rush into making any new rider signing.

“The rest of the boys in the team feel they’re riding well enough to cope with the additional workload.

“With regard to Friday’s match against Peterborough, I know the boys want to put right the fact that the Panthers are the only side not to be beaten at the Oaktree this year.

“They want another maximum three league points to keep Somerset at the top of the Premier League.”