(SPEEDWAY 1)

NEWCASTLE boss George English feels his top two riders both have a strong chance in Sunday's Premier League Riders' Championship.Kenni Larsen qualified for the Sheffield-staged event as the Diamonds' No.1, with fellow Dane Rene Bach also gaining a place in the top-quality line-up due to his high average.English said: "With having both Kenni and Rene in the field at Sheffield and with the incredible way they've been racing of late we would be crazy not to admit we're hopeful of having two on the rostrum."The one thing I do know is that my pair will give nothing but total 100% commitment to taking as many points as possible, and we cannot ask any more so we're looking forward to the action in Sheffield."(SPEEDWAY 2)SHEFFIELD promoter Neil Machin says his side are capable of pulling off an upset in the semi-finals of the Premier League play-offs.The Tigers will face newly-crowned champions Edinburgh with the first leg at Armadale on Friday, and Machin knows his team need to keep themselves in the hunt ahead of next week's return.He said: "The prospect of promotion to the Elite League is a long way off and our immediate focus is to do well against Edinburgh."We congratulate them for their Premier League championship success and they will be looking for a big win against us on their own track."But we'll have a positive attitude and if we can keep it close up there then there is no reason why we can't finish the job at our place next Thursday."(FIXTURES) FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 24:ELTE LEAGUE KO CUP Q/F 2nd leg: Lakeside v Eastbourne 8pm PREMIER LEAGUE PLAY-OFF S/F 1st leg: Edinburgh v Sheffield 7.30 PREMIER LEAGUE: King's Lynn v Newport 7.30 NATIONAL TROPHY: Weymouth v Newport 7.15CHALLENGE: Plymouth v Team Viking 7.30 SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 25:PREMIER LEAGUE: Stoke v Newport 7.30NATIONAL LEAGUE: Rye House v Plymouth 7pm SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 26:PREMIER LEAGUE RIDERS CHAMPIONSHIP: Sheffield 5.30 NATIONAL TROPHY: Newport v Buxton 6.30