SWINDON Robins will welcome David Bellego back into their ranks this evening as they look to get back to winning ways in the SGB Premiership at home to Leicester Lions.

A severely-depleted Robins side slipped to a third successive league defeat last Thursday when they went down 49-41 at home to league leaders Somerset Rebels.

Frenchman Bellego has been forced to miss Swindon’s past two meetings due to a hand injury, but is fit enough to face Leicester at the Abbey Stadium tonight.

Reserve Zach Wajtknecht has also missed the Robins’ previous two fixtures because of concussion protocols and again has to sit out against the Lions.

Swindon’s reserves, Jack Smith and guest Ellis Perks, scored just two points between them from 10 rides against Somerset so team boss Alun Rossiter hopes the booking of another French rider, Dimitri Berge, as cover for Wajtknecht this evening will make a big difference.

“David will be back on Monday. I spoke to him before the meeting on Thursday and he said his swelling has gone down,” said Rossiter.

“We are absolutely knackered without Zach, we don’t realise what a great job he is doing.

“We just can’t replace him and I can’t understand where is average is. Every time he is out, I think I am going to be able to get somebody decent in but it’s so hard.

“We have got Dimitri Berge in for Monday. We would have had him on Thursday but he was at Ipswich.

“I think we have got an ideal replacement for Zach in Dimitri. He is more than capable of doing well.

“He is a rider I have been monitoring for a few years, but every time I have gone to sign him, his average has been too high. I am confident he can come to the party on Monday.”

Swindon’s defeat to Somerset was their first on home shale in 2018 after eight straight wins prior to that.

Rossiter hopes his troops can quickly recapture their top form at the Abbey Stadium this evening, particularly with meeting being broadcast live on BT Sport.

“We hope it is only one defeat at home but we knew Thursday was going to be tough with only four riders, no disrespect to the reserves. It was always going to be an uphill battle,” said Rossiter.

“It’s in front of the cameras and we need the win – we need to get back to winning ways.”

The Lions are much-changed for the meeting, having axed four of their seven riders last week, with Scott Nicholls, Stuart Robson, Josh Auty and Connor Mountain all coming into the side.

Supporters are reminded to use their admission vouchers from Thursday’s meeting, which will entitle them to £10 entry tonight.

SWINDON: Nick Morris, David Bellego, Adam Ellis, Tobiasz Musielak, Troy Batchelor, Dimitri Berge (G), Jack Smith.

LEICESTER: Hans Andersen, Charles Wright, Josh Auty, Ricky Wells, Scott Nicholls, Connor Mountain, Stuart Robson.