SWINDON skipper Leigh Adams will put old rivalries to one side tonight when he spearheads the Australian challenge in round one of the Speedway World Cup.

Adams will captain the Aussies in Leszno - home of his Polish side the Bulls - just 48 hours after writing the latest chapter in his running battle with fellow countryman Jason Crump.

It was honours even for Adams and Crump on Thursday as Robins were held to a thrilling 45-45 draw by Belle Vue Aces, but Australia's top two riders will be pooling their collective talents tonight.

World Cup winners in 2000 and 2001, Australia have been drawn in a group with defending champions Poland, Hungary and Russia, and Adams is already eyeing a place in next week's final.

"It's nice to be back in that team environment again after all the solo riding in the Grand Prix Series," he said.

"It's also a bit weird because most weeks we are going head-to-head with each other, but on Saturday we will all be putting our best foot forward for Australia.

"We have been struggling in this competition for a while but we will give it our best shot as always.

"I think we have matured as a team since last year. Chris Holder is going well now, whereas 12 months ago he lacked experience.

"It's nice to be on my home circuit at Leszno, but there won't be any advantage because the final was staged there last year, so all the boys know the track pretty well."

The winners of tonight's meeting and the second round at Coventry on Monday will automatically qualify for next Saturday's final in Denmark.

The second and third placed countries after 25 heats will be entered into Thursday's Race-Off, which will also be held in Denmark.

"The main thing is to get through to the final," said Adams.

"If we can do that in Poland on Saturday then great, we can put our feet up and have a rest. If not, we will have to go through the race-off. Either way we should make the final.

"Poland and Denmark will be very strong because both of them have a home round. To be honest Poland are going to be strong anywhere.

"But I would expect Hungary and Russia to be a bit weaker, so we should go through in second place at least."

Great Britain have been drawn in group two alongside Sweden, Denmark and the Czech Republic.

Teams for tonight Red - Australia Jason Crump, LEIGH ADAMS (c), Ryan Sullivan, Davey Watt, Chris Holder Blue - Russia Denis Gizatullin (c), Grigory Laguta, Roman Povazhny, Artem Laguta, Emil Sajfutdinov White - Hungary Matej Ferjan, Sandor Tihanyi (c), Jozsef Tabaka, Norbert Magosi, Laszlo Szatmari Yellow - Poland Krzysztof Kasprzak, Rune Holta, Tomasz Gollob (c), Jarek Hampel, Wieslaw Jagus.