ROBINS boss Alun Rossiter knows this week will be vital in his side’s chances of making the Elite League play-offs.

Starting tonight at Wolverhampton, Swindon are racing four times in five days and just once at home.

It is a tough test for Rossiter and his riders who are playing catch-up on most of their rivals in terms of matches.

It is testament to Swindon’s form at the Abbey, given all the teams above them in the Elite League have had at least four more meetings, they are just one place outside the play-offs.

However if they are to overhaul Belle Vue in fourth, and possibly even King’s Lynn in third, the Robins will need to start winning on the road.

Rossiter is well aware of that fact and needs his team to gain momentum and build on it over the week to leave Lakeside on Friday night in a strong position.

“It’s a vitally important week for us really, we need to get some points on the table,” said the Abbey chief.

“We’ve got a lot away ones coming in and the more points we get away the easier it will be for us to get into the play-offs – simple as that really.

“It’s about a getting on a roll.

“Wolverhampton is one of those tracks where you either like it or you dislike it. Hopefully we can come to the party and make sure we get the points.

“The worse thing is for us to look at them like they’re struggling and go there expecting to win. They beat Poole last week by a point, we don’t look at their position, they’ve just had a bad bit of luck.

“On their own track they’re pretty hard to beat.”

Rossiter thought he might be able to name his first full strength side of the season at Monmore Green, but the injury to Lewis Rose has meant Ashley Morris, a former Wolves rider, will guest.

With Rose out for a month Rossiter will again be playing market for stopgaps from the Tier Two Fast Track list, some of whom are not even riding reserve in the Premier League, a source of frustration for the Robins boss.

“I thought we were going to be all there for Monday then we had the accident against Poole with Lewis Rose,” he explained.

“Our options are very limited unfortunately. I’ve got to make the best of a bad situation.

“I’m still not convinced with the way system is. I’m happy with the riders that we’ve got, but when we lose riders then the replacement don’t seem to be fair.

“We’ve done our bit I think it’s time for the Premier League to take the baton on.

“If those Fast Track riders struggling in their league and I think we should be looking at something like the Fast Track system from National League into the Premier League.

“We should be looking at doing something a bit different in the Elite League.”