Workington Comets face back-to-back meetings with patched-up sides this weekend as they look to continue their climb up the SGB Championship table and extend their winning run.

Comets are due to host struggling Sheffield tomorrow (7pm start) before visiting Brough Park to tackle Newcastle Diamonds on Sunday (6.30pm start).

They will be without rising star Dan Bewley, who put in perhaps his best performance for the club so far in Sunday’s win against Scunthorpe, for the Sheffield meeting, while Danish duo Rene Bach and Nicolai Klindt will miss out on Sunday.

All three riders have commitments for their Polish clubs, who take preference when their meetings clash with Comets fixtures, although if the Tigers meeting had taken place tonight as was originally scheduled, there would have been no need for Bewley to be absent.

To add further frustration, Comets can use rider replacement at No.2 for Bewley tomorrow but will be forced to rely on National League guests at No.1 and No.7 when they meet the Diamonds.

Team manager Tony Jackson said: “It’s not ideal but everyone except Nicolai can have a ride for Dan on Saturday.

“We went to Newcastle with a depleted team the other week and won, although this is possibly more depleted and they are key riders.

“It’s frustrating for us, the team and the fans.

“I can understand the fans won’t be happy because we’re not but, unfortunately, the way speedway is at the moment Polish clubs call the shots.”

There is good news for Workington though as young talent Kyle Bickley has escaped serious injury in his nasty crash against Scunthorpe and is set to be fit to ride this weekend.

Bickley was leading Danny Phillips and Gino Manzares in his first heat on Sunday when the latter came off on the second bend and wiped him out, leading to him being withdrawn from the meeting and taken to hospital.

Jackson added: “Kyle is fit and, hopefully, his crash hasn’t knocked his confidence too much.

“He can also take confidence from the way he was riding for the three and a half laps before he crashed out.

“It could have been worse, no doubt.”