(SPEEDWAY 1) PETERBOROUGH boss Trevor Swales says his side are heading into a crucial run of fixtures as they chase a play-off place. The Panthers are currently eight points off fourth-placed Belle Vue, but with nine matches in hand, and they complete this week with the visit of the Aces to the Showground – following a home match against Lakeside (Monday) and a local trip to King’s Lynn (Wednesday). Swales said: “This week is a big week for us. It’s no good having meetings in hand if you don’t win them so we need to kick on now and get some momentum as we push for the play-offs. “That’s what it’s all about and we know that we are more than capable of being in there come the end of the season.” (SPEEDWAY 2) BIRMINGHAM have confirmed they are no longer in the market for a new No.1 – with Krzysztof Kasprzak set to keep his place at Perry Barr. The Brummies had been linked with a move for Hans Andersen as Kasprzak struggled, but boss Graham Drury says the Pole’s position is now safe. He said: “I think it’s fair to say that if we had permission to take Hans we would have signed him, that’s how close it was, but I’m not sure why were denied permission when we were, you will have to ask other people that. “But we are also more satisfied that KK has now got back to somewhere near his best and he had a fine World Cup. It’s nice for Birmingham Speedway to have a World Cup winner in their side and we will welcome him back with open arms against Lakeside on Thursday.”

 TUESDAY JULY 19: NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP S/F 2nd leg: Isle of Wight v Mildenhall 7.30 WEDNESDAY JULY 20: SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Wolverhampton 8pm, King’s Lynn v Peterborough 7.30 THURSDAY JULY 21: SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Birmingham v Lakeside 7.30, Swindon v Eastbourne 7.30 PREMIER LEAGUE: Redcar v Plymouth 7.30 PREMIER LEAGUE KO CUP: Ipswich v Newport 7.30, Sheffield v Workington 7.45