SWINDON Robins can put one foot in the Premiership Supporters’ Cup final tonight with a win against King’s Lynn Stars, and team manager Alun Rossiter is optimistic about his side’s chances of earning at least a consolation bonus point.

The Robins suffered their first loss of the newly introduced Supporters’ Cup on Thursday night against Ipswich Witches, going down narrowly 48-42 at Foxhall Stadium.

A penultimate race maximum, courtesy of Adam Ellis and Jason Doyle, ensured the Robins left Suffolk with a consolation point to their name – placing them three points clear at the top of the Southern Group with two meetings left to race.

Led by newly crowned British U21 champion Robert Lambert, tonight’s opponents will provide Rossiter’s septet with a different challenge to what the Robins have faced already this season – with the Robins boss admitting the Stars’ strength in depth is one of the Norfolk club’s biggest attributes.

“King’s Lynn will be tough, they have a team built around strength in depth,” said Rossiter.

“But if our top five respond in a way they have been doing so far then I can’t see why we can’t go and pick up something from the meeting.

“The track will be similar to what we raced on at Ipswich on Thursday, it’s quite grippy.

“Saying that, it doesn’t ride as grippy as it used to. All the team ride it well, my fingers are crossed.”

Lambert – who last year won the British senior championship for the first time – added to his already extensive honours list when bagging the U21 crown for a third successive season ahead of Swindon’s Zach Wajtknecht at Berwick’s Shielfield Park.

After a below-par start to his British campaign, Rossiter – also GB boss – is pleased to see Lambert turn a corner ahead of Great Britain’s Speedway of Nations qualifying round in Manchester a week on Saturday.

But the pair will be rivals tonight, and the Robins chief has vowed to fire up his promising seven ahead of tapes up.

Rossiter added: “Robert (Lambert) is starting to turn a corner now, he’s sorted out whatever went wrong earlier in the season.

“We’ve got to make sure the rest of the boys are fired up.

“I would’ve taken nine points from four meetings – especially after the home draw against Poole.”

More speedway online.