ISLE OF WIGHT Islanders take to the track tonight with the visit of Kings Lynn Stars.

The Stars are always formidable opposition but there will be some added spice as the Norfolk team were accused of tapping up and eventually signing Australian whizz-kid Troy Batchelor from the south coast club after he had agreed to sign for them.

It led to a lot of angry words but Batchelor's signing will not affect the result of tonight's encounter as he crashed badly last week against Somerset and will be out for eight weeks after undergoing surgery on the resulting arm injury.

In Batchelor's place comes another Australian in the form of Ashley Jones, who is joined by the impressive Tomas Topinka and Oliver Allen, Kevin Doolan and Adam Allott, all of whom have Elite League experience.

Jan Jaros and James Brundle make up the Stars' team of seven.

The Islanders will be hoping to wipe out memories of their heavy defeat at Rye House and last night's 53-39 reverse at Exeter, when Ulrich Ostergaard was the Islanders' best riser with ten points, and get their home campaign off to a flier. The action gets under way at 7.30pm.