THE Somerset Rebels take a break from Premier League action as this Friday as the Oaktree Arena stages the Premier League Pairs Championship.

The competition, which brings together two out of the top three available riders from 10 of the 13 clubs, will be the 8th consecutive year the completion has been staged at the home of the Somerset Rebels.

The home side finally broke their 'Pairs Hoodoo' last season when they lifted the trophy for the first time in the club's history.

On that never to be forgotten occasion it was Jason Doyle and Josh Grajczonek who rode the Rebels to victory - this year Somerset will be pinning their hopes of retaining the title on a different duo, Olly Allen and Nick Morris.

The meeting is widely acknowledged as one of the highlights of the British speedway calendar, and for the first time since its move to the Championship's now traditional home of the Oaktree Arena, the 2014 competition will be broadcast live by Sky Sports.

Somerset team manager Garry May said: “As ever, we are honoured to once again be asked by the British Speedway authorities to stage the Premier League Pairs Championship and on top of it drawing a big crowd to the Oaktree Arena, it will be broadcast live across the globe by Sky Sports, which is not only a big boost for the club, but for the region as a whole.

“With the actual meeting getting underway at 7pm this year, we will be opening the turnstiles at 5pm, but as a consequence of the earlier than usual start time, the pits will only be open to the fans until 6pm as that will be the time when the riders will be warming the engines etc, ready for the pre-meeting parade.”

“I know that it is said every year, but this year's Championship is wide open, with no real clear-cut favourites amongst the 10 teams, so it should make for a most exciting meeting, not only for the thousands who normally attend the event each year, but for the countless numbers watching in via Sky Sports, so all we need now is for the weather to be kinder to us than it has been on the past two Friday's and I am sure we'll be in for a cracking meeting, one certainly not to be missed.”