Flyin' Ryan is ready to polish off Diamonds

The Californian took a heavy tumble while riding in James Grieves' Testimonial at Ashfield last weekend which sparked concerns that he might have been sidelined for the Newcastle matches.

However, Fisher revealed: "I was out in the deep stuff riding against Joe Haines on Sunday and I fell off and gave my head a bit of a bang, but I'm totally fine and raring to go and I'm looking forward to the match." But Newcastle haven't had to seek their problems either. They are without Mark Lemon and influential reserve Dakota North and have booked in guests David Howe and Adam Roynon respectively.

There was also a fear that former Monarch Derek Sneddon might be ruled out after injuring his knee against Ipswich Witches in the first leg of the promotion/relegation play-off at Newcastle on Sunday.

But while Sneddon didn't make the second-leg trip to Ipswich last night, he will line-up against his old team-mates this evening.

Monarchs are desperately keen to pull off a first league and cup double which would help divert attention away from their recent financial troubles and allow them to end the season on a high note.

Co-promoter John Campbell remains resolute that his side have got what it takes to scupper the Diamonds, saying: "I've said all along that our riders are good enough to win, and I think we have a very good chance of beating them over two legs."

Monarchs are using rider replacement for the injured Andrew Tully and are operating it at No.?2 forcing the break-up of the successful Fisher and Matthew Wethers partnership. Campbell added: "Although not everybody uses rider replacement at No.?2, to me it's the most obvious place to do so because it gets it out of the way early in the match, and, with our reserves taking three of Andrew's four rides, it's the best way to do it."

Whether Monarchs will be able to kill the contest off at Armadale remains debatable, even Campbell isn't sure, admitting: "We'll give it our best shot but I'm not sure that we need to kill it off, we have beaten Newcastle already round their own track this season, and I'd find it rather hard to believe they'll rattle up a big score against us in the second leg on Sunday."

With Aussie North missing, this could produce a big swing in Monarchs' favour at reserve with all eyes on William Lawson.

"William will get seven rides and I'll be very disappointed if he doesn't pick up a double- figure score," said Campbell.

"If he does, we'll be well on the way to clinching the trophy especially if he can prevent Newcastle's riders' from picking up third-place points."

Newcastle's choice of David Howe as a replacement for Lemon is a bit risky according to Campbell. "He's had good and bad matches at Armadale and if things go well for him he is capable of scoring points, but he didn't really beat anybody when he rode for Scunthorpe, his own team, earlier in the season.

"He really only stopped Kalle [Katajisto] getting a 21-point maximum in the last race, so the pressure will be on him.

"I'm not convinced I'd have put David in ahead of Stuart Robson, who guested for Newcastle last week, but it's their choice."

Having won the league title by 16 points from Newcastle, Monarchs may feel that not having won the cup since 1999 they are perhaps due to end the drought.

But Campbell observed: "I'll be disappointed if we don't do it, though I'm not in any way suggesting we deserve to win, we have to race to claim the cup and if over the two matches we are not good enough, so be it."

If Monarchs toil tonight, and many believe they'll require a 20-point advantage to worry Newcastle, then the trip to Brough Park would become perilous.

Campbell summed up: "It's not out of the question for us to win there again. Newcastle will definitely miss Dakota North and that is to our advantage.

"If we build up a big lead I'm confident in our ability to defend it."