SOMERSET Rebels will be hoping to continue their top-of-the-table form when the Newcastle Diamonds visit the Oaktree Arena tomorrow night (Friday).

Somerset will be without their number one, Brady Kurtz, who will be away in Pardubice (Czech Republic) competing in a qualifying round of the World Under-21 Championship - and so it means that it will be a return to Somerset colours ‘for one night only’ of ex-Rebel favourite Alex Davies, who is on loan at Scunthorpe for the 2015 season, as a guest replacement for Kurtz.

Team manager Garry May said: “Whilst losing Brady from Friday’s match is a blow, in Alex (Davies) we have an excellent guest replacement - he showed when at Somerset with Scunthorpe last Friday that he hasn’t forgotten his way around the Oaktree Arena following his year out from British Speedway in 2014.

“It is a great honour for both Brady and the club for him to be selected as one of the two Australian representatives in the World Under-21 Championships and we wish him all the best in Friday's meeting in Pardubice.

“Alex was, and still is, a firm favourite with Somerset fans, so I would like to think that they will turn out in force for Friday’s match against Newcastle to see him in Somerset colours once again - if only for the one night - whilst cheering on the team as they look to maintain their place at the top of the Premier League table.”

The meeting gets underway at the usual 7.30pm start time.