The Kent SLYDE Kings have a double date with the Stoke Potters on Saturday (14/7) at Loomer Road with a quickfire return at Central Park on Monday (16/7).

The Saturday night fixture is the second leg of the Knock Out Cup tie, with Kent holding a 22 point from the first leg that was held at the beginning of June.

Kent will be at full strength for the two fixtures handing a full debut to new signing William O’Keefe who has come into the side to replace Jacob Clouting who has been stood down. On his first appearance for the Kings as an “unattached three point rider” against the Isle of Wight last Monday (9/7) O’Keefe scored 4+1 and will be looking for a similar return against his former club.

The rest of the Kent side is unchanged from the previous fixture led as ever by skipper Luke Bowen alongside fellow heat leaders Jack Thomas and Nathan Stoneman. Stoke are led by the 2016 National League Riders Championship and British Under 19 Champion Max Clegg. Clegg is joined by Rob Shuttleworth who missed the Central Park fixture due to work commitments and the evergreen Tony Atkin.

The action at Loomer Road gets underway at 7pm.

On the Monday (16/7) the attention turns to Travel Plus Tours National League action at Central Park, with the Kent SLYDE Kings currently sitting in 5th place in the table looking to catch ground on those in the Play Off places as we near the midpoint mark in the season. Stoke will be looking for the win to move away from the wooden spoon scrap they are currently in with basement side Buxton, however both sides have a number of fixtures in hand.

On the team front both sides will be unchanged from the Saturday with William O’Keefe making his official home debut for Kent. The man who replaced him in the Stoke line up Josh Embleton certainly made an impression on his previous appearance at Central Park scoring paid 8 from a full quota of seven rides.

Last week’s Rider of the Night will Nathan Stoneman will be looking to kick on from his paid 12 performance against the Isle of Wight as he makes way back to full fitness from his recent knee injury and get a couple of wins over his fellow Welsh compatriot Tony Atkin.

Another rider who has recently had an upturn in fortunes is Taylor Hampshire, he scored 10 paid 11 in the away fixture against the Isle of Wight and followed that up with a solid performance in the home match.

The action at Central Park gets underway at 6:30pm with the parade of riders around 6:20pm.