Reading will be aiming to show their bounce-back-ability when they make a first-ever visit to Perry Barr Stadium to face Birmingham in Premier League fare on Wednesday 16 July.

This follows their 7-point reverse at home to Edinburgh on Sunday, which brought to an end a thirteen-match winning streak at Smallmead.

Following that body-blow, the Racers were further hit hard with the news that Ulrich Ostergaard had picked-up broken bones between the fingers of his right hand, when he crashed heavily on the back straight during heat five of the meeting against the Scottish side.

At the time of going to press, the Reading management were still looking to secure a suitable guest replacement for the Dane, who has been the side's linchpin this term.

However, with Ostergaard’s current green sheet average being 10.16, they can take some consolation from having a large selection of riders to choose from.

Meanwhile, the Brummies know what injuries are all about, having suffered rotten luck this term that has seen every member of their original starting seven endure a spell on the sidelines at one time or another.

However, they are almost back to full-strength for Wednesday’s encounter and will be led by the inspirational Jason Lyons, who currently tops the entire Premier League green sheet averages on a 10.28 figure.

The West Midlanders also include Lyons’ fellow Aussie Craig Watson in the ranks, the Sydney-born rider having joined the club in May following the unfortunate closure of Newport.

And, providing Birmingham with a three-pronged attack is Canadian Kyle Legault, who recently returned to the saddle after recovering from a broken right leg, which he sustained while riding for the side in a Premier Trophy match against Rye House at Perry Barr on 2 April.

Looking ahead to the match-up, Racers’ promoter Malcolm Holloway commented: “We are still licking our wounds after losing at home to Edinburgh. Don’t get me wrong, the Monarchs are an excellent side, but we should have performed better on our own racing strip.

“None of us enjoy losing, the riders included, and I’m hoping it will spur them on to do well at Birmingham.

“Having said that, the Perry Barr circuit is new territory for Reading, so the lads will need to get dialled-in quickly.

“Should they be able to achieve that, then there’s no reason why we can’t put up a good performance.

“We will miss Ulrich (Ostergaard), that’s for sure, but I’m pulling out all the stops to find someone who can do a top drawer job in his absence.”

BIRMINGHAM BRC ROOFING BRUMMIES (Green sheet averages shown in brackets)
1. Kyle Legault (8.20); 2. Jack Hargreaves (5.71); 3. Jason Lyons (Captain, 10.28); 4. Lee Smart (6.59); 5. Craig Watson (6.48); 6. Jack Roberts (3.00); 7. James Birkinshaw (4.00).

READING RACERS (Green sheet averages shown in brackets)
1. Mark Lemon (Captain, 7.52); 2. Tom P. Madsen (6.69); 3. A.N. Other (Guest, 10.16); 4. Tomas Suchanek (5.10); 5. Chris Mills (5.17); 6. Jamie Smith (4.00); 7. Nicki Glanz (3.00).