DAKOTA North hopes he can capitalise on riding on his favourite UK track when he guests for the Swindon Robins in their Elite League clash away at King’s Lynn Stars tonight.

Ex-Robin North will ride in place of injured skipper Troy Batchelor, who has been ruled out after aggravating his shoulder and rib injuries at the Grand Prix Series opener in Warsaw on Saturday.

The Poole Pirates rider will be joined in the Swindon squad by Coventry Bees’ Chris Harris, who replaces number one Adrian Miedzinski, who is out with a long-term hand injury.

Peter Kildemand was expected to stand in for Miedzinski on a temporary basis but he injured his knee last Thursday to delay his return to the Abbey Stadium.

Australian North makes a swift return to Swindon colours having left the Abbey at the end of last season but is keen to have a big impact in Norfolk.

“It’s a track I really like, it’s probably my favourite one in the UK,” said 23-year-old North, who had a stint on the Stars’ books in 2012.

“I seem to do well when I go there and everything about it is really good and it just suits me. The surface is like a billiard table compared to some of the tracks here.

“I don’t think anyone thought Troy would be out again this week but when I got a message from Rosco to say he wouldn’t be available after his fall in the Grand Prix on Saturday and asking if I could guest I was more than happy to do it.

“I didn’t have anything on this week and I was only going to go to Poland to practice so it fitted in perfectly.

“Me and Rosco still stay in touch and I know all the boys that are there any way, so it’s no problem for me going back in.

“I really enjoyed my time with Swindon before and hopefully I can do well for them again and you never know, I might get the chance to guest for them again in the future.”

Tonight’s meet is the first of back-to-back clashes against the Stars, with Danish rider Hans Andersen expected to step in as a guest for Thursday’s home meeting, with Harris likely to retain his spot.

Although it is far from ideal to have to draft in so many guests, North reckons the Robins will still head into both fixtures in good shape.

North said: “They’ve been pretty unlucky with injuries so far this year but hopefully those boys are all back on the bike soon and that’s the end of it for them.

“Hopefully whoever steps in for them can do a good job and I’m sure we are capable of doing well at King’s Lynn. It should be a good night.”