Drury has been in charge of the Birmingham Brummies since 2007

Birmingham Brummies manager Graham Drury and his Wolverhampton counterpart Peter Adams both say they're excited about the season-opening BBC WM Trophy.

The Brummies are joining Wolverhampton in the sport's top flight this year for the first time since 1983.

The Elite League begins in April but the teams will meet in a local derby first to kick-off the season.

The first leg is at Perry Barr on Thursday 17 March, with the return at Monmore Green on Monday 21 March.

Drury told BBC WM: "There's no love lost between ourselves and Wolverhampton! I've got to say it's a friendly rivalry, but we both want to be the top dog in the area, and the supporters will be cheering on for their respective clubs.

"It's a good rivalry, close teams trying to outfox each other, and I'm really looking forward to my battles with Peter Adams."

Adams commented: "We can't wait to get going. That's the very first piece of silverware that's going to be annexed this season.

"I'm sure that Graham Drury and his boys will want to put one over on us, but we're equally as determined."

The Brummies have been in the Premier League since they were reformed in 2007, but now they and King's Lynn move up into a top flight expanded to ten clubs.

Wolves won the Elite League in 2009 and challenged strongly again last season.

Adams told BBC WM he welcomed the new arrivals to the top division: "I'm delighted that both of them are back in their rightful strata in speedway in this country.

"I think if they can both make a success of it, there are other Premier League teams who are going to be monitoring what they do. If they make a go of it then maybe the League will be that bit bigger next season."

Wolves rider Ty Proctor told BBC WM: "With Birmingham being so close it's going to be a big grudge match now, so that's really good. I think you at the radio station will enjoy that! And the majority of the fans will."

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