ANYONE predicting Swindon Robins to dish out another Lakeside hammering should rein in those expectations, according to team manager Alun Rossiter.

Swindon romped to a 50-40 success over the Hammers at the Abbey Stadium last month and the two sides will resume battle at Blunsdon this evening.

Lakeside will travel to Wiltshire looking to retain their place at the top of the Elite League table. The Essex outfit are level on points with Wolverhampton Wolves, who travel to Belle Vue Aces tomorrow.

Swindon are back at home for the first time in a fortnight – last time out, they were stunned 47-43 by bottom side Leicester Lions – and boss Rossiter is readying his troops for another tricky evening against the Hammers.

Rossiter expects to see a response from Lakeside number one Andreas Jonsson after he underperformed on his side’s previous trip west along the M4, while the visitors will be operating a rider replacement system to make up for the unavailability of Kim Nilsson, who has other engagements in his native Sweden.

“It’s not going to be an easy meet, especially as AJ only got five points last time and you’d probably expect him to be getting more than that,” said Rossiter.

“It is going to be tough and although they haven’t got Kim Nilsson, they’ll be tough to ride against.

“They are a good side – there is no doubt about that – but I think they have had quite a few home meetings and they haven’t got too many points on the road, so it will be interesting.

“But you never underestimate anyone as you just have to look at the Leicester result at home – that’s one that got away for us, really.”

That defeat at home to Leicester was Swindon’s third in the space of four days following consecutive losses to reigning champions Poole Pirates, although they did exact some revenge two days later with victory away at the Lions – their last meeting together.

“It was a tough week. The Leicester result at home hit us hard and we should have had those points on the board but we put in a good response in the away meeting,” added Rossiter.

“We’ve had a bit of a break and I am sure the boys are looking forward to riding again now.”

Nick Morris is to undergo a fitness test ahead of the meeting to assess whether he has sufficiently recovered from an ankle injury suffered at Leicester last time out.

Meanwhile, fellow Australian Rohan Tungate is expected to return after missing that fixture with a shoulder problem.