JASON Doyle is hoping that his greener-than-usual Australia side can cause a few upsets this week and meet Alun Rossiter’s Great Britain in the Speedway World Cup final.

Whilst Swindon boss and GB chief Rossiter is preparing his team to ride in Saturday’s final at the National Stadium at Belle Vue – they qualify as the host nation – Robins skipper Doyle and his fellow Aussies are in Vastervik, Sweden, today as they take on their hosts, the United States and Germany in the second of two semi-final events.

Australia, who finished fourth in last year’s final in Vojens, Denmark, have included Max Fricke, 20, and reserve Brady Kurtz, 19, in their 2016 team and as the eldest of his country’s quintet, 30-year-old Doyle’s optimism is tempered with the expectation of some inconsistency from the Aussies.

“It’s a really good week for any team that’s riding with their mates, especially in the Australian team; we’re all quite close and we’ve looked after each other for many years,” said the Swindon star.

“We’ve got a few young kids this year. I think this is probably going to be the year that they’re going to learn and then hopefully, in the years to come, we can get higher up.

“We never know in speedway. We’re going to go there and try and win it, and hopefully, one time, we can go straight to the final like the Brits have been doing in the last couple of years.

“Hopefully they listen. You know what the young kids are like these days – they know best.

“But Max is going really well at the moment and with Brady at reserve, it’s really good for us in Australian speedway and hopefully, in years to come, they can be up there.

“I think Vojens (Saturday’s first semi-final, won by Poland) was definitely the hardest semi-final. I’m glad we weren’t there.

“I know it’s going to be hard against Sweden, in Sweden, but I think we’re better off there and then we can hopefully go straight to the final.

“But even if we make it to the race-off (on Friday at Belle Vue by finishing second), it’s a good thing because we can get to know the track a bit better. It’s still going to be difficult but we’re looking forward to it.”

Doyle is also anticipating an occasion for British fans – and the world’s riders – to savour when Britain hosts its first World Cup final in 10 years on Saturday at the newly revamped National Stadium in Manchester.

He added: “I’ve only done two laps there but I’ve seen a lot of racing and watched it on YouTube to see where the lines are.

“As the British final went, with Danny (King) riding on the fence; that’s where I like to be so hopefully, it’s like that and we’ll see what happens.

“They’ve done a lot to the track and it’s going to be raceable, and I think it’s going to be one of the better venues for the World Cup.”