Workington Comets hope to outgun Berwick Bandits in home and away clashes this weekend to give their Championship Shield campaign a boost.

Bad weather has meant Comets have only raced one team meeting so far this season – an entertaining 47-43 win against Edinburgh last month – but this weekend is a chance to kickstart the season with a pair of meetings against their oldest rivals.

Comets host Berwick at Derwent Park tonight (7.30pm start) before travelling to face the Bandits on their own track at Shielfield Park tomorrow (7pm start).

They will be without No.1 Rene Bach tonight as he has a commitment in Denmark, while Nicolai Klindt will miss tomorrow night as he competes in the SEC Challenge in Teranzano, Italy, as a wildcard.

The club will use rider replacement for both absentees.

Team manager Tony Jackson said: “With 10 teams racing on Friday, only Newcastle aren’t and half of their team’s injured so the options were slim.

“Berwick are another team a bit like us who are solid right the way through with decent reserves.

“It was good that Dan Bewley and Kyle Bickley had a spin around Berwick the other day.

“It was a bit like follow the leader as it often can be there so the gating will be important.”

This weekend will be captain Ty Proctor’s first action for Workington this year after his visa situation was resolved, while it will also be the first chance for fans to see Bradley Wilson-Dean in action since he was signed as a short-term replacement for injured star Mason Campton.

“Bradley had a good night last night for Somerset and I think he’ll do a job while Mason is out,” Jackson added.