SOMERSET Speedway will kick off their top flight adventure with a Knock Out Cup tie at home to Leicester, ahead of a Premiership double-header versus Poole.

The top division of UK speedway announced its fixtures for the 2017 season yesterday, with the newly promoted ‘Cases’ Rebels getting their campaign under way on Friday, April 7.

Leicester are their first 2017 opponents, with the Lions coming to the Oaktree Arena to contest their opening cup match.

It also sees the Rebels’ new signing Patrick Hougaard, a 27-year-old Dane, face his former side, having been a Lion last year.

Somerset then open their Premiership campaign with a double-header against South West rivals Poole, on Friday, April 14, playing at Poole in the morning before a return at the Oaktree.

After meeting Leicester again in the cup (this time away, on Saturday, April 15), they host Swindon on Friday, April 21 in their second Premiership fixture.

Their fixtures run through to September 2017 – you can see the Rebels' full fixture list online here.

And the entire UK speedway fixture list for the season is here.

The Rebels won the league title last season, as well as the League Cup, and took the decision to move up to the rebranded Premiership (previously known as the Elite League).

Rebels 2017 line-up: Rohan Tungate (9.03), Josh Grajczonek (8.90), Patrick Hougaard (8.71), Paul Starke (6.62), Charles Wright (6.59), Jake Allen (5.96), Jan Graversen (4.00).