The Hammers lost 52-40 to the Witches earlier in the season

Lakeside Hammers will look to avenge the Good Friday defeat by local rivals the Ipswich Witches at the Arena Raceway on Friday night.

Essex were beaten 52-40 by Ipswich in the Craven Shield the last time the two teams met.

But Hammers' boss Stuart Douglas is confident this will not be the case in Friday's Elite League encounter.

He said: "This is a great opportunity to see how we have improved since Ipswich rode so impressively here."

"I'm really looking forward to this meeting," he enthused.

The Hammers head into the match in second place in the Elite League, a position which Douglas is keen to keep hold of.

"We are nicely poised in the League and it is important we stay very close to Swindon at the top of the field ahead of our away fixture against them just two weeks from now," he said.