Edinburgh Monarchs v Scunthorpe Scorpions

Edinburgh's amazing start to the season continued with their ninth successive win, and they had plenty to spare over Scunthorpe.

They seem to be getting better, with every team member eager to play their part in both piling up the points and assisting each other.

Any doubts that they might get all three points lasted till about heat 5, when Scorpions' opening pair hit back with a 5-1 after two maximum advantages to the home team. From then on, it was all Edinburgh.

Guests Theo Pijper (2) and Mason Campton were the only race winners for Scunthorpe, for whom David Howe and Josh Auty were well below the form they once produced regularly on this track. Auty especially appears to have completely lost his trademark battling attitude.

Craig Cook gave a masterclass for Edinburgh, a paid maximum including twice coming from the back in great style. He also showed a willingness to sit alongside his partner when the occasion demanded.

Stevie Worrall, a three-pointer at the start of the season remember, was scarcely less impressive in a confident and clever display, dropping his only point in heat 2. He more than anyone is the rider who has made this team such an effective one.

The others all rode well and Sam Masters is really starting to look as strong at home as he does away.

The racing was unimpressive in the early heats but from heat 7 onwards matters improved. In this one Ashley Birks made the start but came under powerful pressure from Masters who eventually surged to the front.

We also had Ryan Douglas having the temerity to lead Cook into the last lap on his TR ride in heat 10. He succumbed to Cook's drive up the back straight but surely everyone felt for him as he came down on the last corner and got nothing for such a bold effort.

He did get some reward in his final ride when he bustled past Max Fricke as the young Monarch was trying to protect his partner Derek Sneddon.

Edinburgh Monarchs v Scunthorpe Scorpions

With lots of fine weather on the way for Friday, everything is set fair for the Monarchs to get their home Premier League campaign off and running with the visit of the Scunthorpe Scorpions who finished bottom of their League Cup section and will be without two of their regular riders.

But beware, a wounded Scorpion's sting can be every bit as dangerous and they will be looking to tarnish Monarchs' shiny new averages and their unbeaten home run which has already helped earn them the Spring Trophy and a place in the League Cup semi-finals.

Craig Cook showed this week that he has the ambition and the ability to become as big a star of the Elite League as he has become in the Premier League. At the time of writing, it is not known whether Scunthorpe will use a guest or rider replacement at No.1 for the injured Anders Mellgren.

Thanks to getting his head down and scoring solidly at reserve, Justin Sedgmen's reward is to move up to partner Craig at No.2, an enviable position for any rider. Opposing him is the 'old man' of this youthful Scorpions side, David Howe, now in his sixth season with Scunthorpe.

Max Fricke is another with his average heading very much in the right direction and he faces one of the Premier League's fastest improving riders in Ryan Douglas, a 19-year-old from Brisbane who began to blossom at the end of 2013 and is carrying that great form into 2014.

Edinburgh's captain, Derek Sneddon, has been nudging his average upwards this season and he faces a live-wire at No.4 in the Scunthorpe captain Ashley Birks from Sheffield who only took up speedway after a Moto-X injury and subsequently had his spine pinned following a speedway injury.

Sam Masters has slotted happily in as a vital member of the Monarchs side and is quickly making up for his 'lost' season. He lines up at No.5 opposite Josh Auty from Yorkshire, still just 22, who was only demoted from No.1 due to bonus points no longer counting.

The American with attitude, Aaron Fox drops to reserve where he will hope to continue his steady upward progress. On the opposite side of the pits is former Moto-X rider Matt Williamson, a 21-year-old from Bury who is in his first season after starring in Scunthorpe's amateur meetings.

Steve Worrall's sensational recent form means he is still riding way above his new average due to it being calculated over the last 24 matches. He will be facing a guest at No.7 this week, Mason Campton who has been signed by Workington on a full transfer from Glasgow.

Scunthorpe had their high point in 2012 when they won the Premier League Championship final by a single point. Since then they have been building for the future and have been a bit slow off the blocks this season with most scores being fairly close, home and away.

Scorpions have a number of riders who could go well on the night so there are a lot of uncertainties, but you have to think that if Monarchs ride to anything near their potential, they should be too strong for a side used to a bigger, faster track. Will it turn out that way? Be there to find out! Tapes up at 7.30 sharp.

Likely line-ups:

EDINBURGH SCOTWASTE MONARCHS: Craig Cook, Justin Sedgmen, Max Fricke, Derek Sneddon (capt.), Sam Masters, Aaron Fox, Steve Worrall.

FLUIDAIR POWER SCUNTHORPE SCORPIONS: R/R or guest for Anders Mellgren, David Howe, Ryan Douglas, Ashley Birks (capt.), Josh Auty, Matt Williamson, Mason Campton (guest).