But the title-chasing Capital outfit, whose home clash with Glasgow was washed out last night, may be without Swede Thomas Jonasson for this vital match.

Jonasson rides for Valsarna in the Allsvenskan League and they say they need him for their play-off matches which could earn them promotion into the Swedish top flight.

Monarchs promoter John Campbell revealed he is in talks with Valsarna's team manager to try and broker some sort of agreement which would allow Jonasson to line-up against the Bears.

Said Campbell: "Valsarna want Thomas to help them win promotion because it would mean their crowds would jump from 500 to 3000 if they go up.

"But I've told the Valsarna manager that we too require Thomas to help us win the league. He replied 'we have an equal problem then'.

"Valsarna have a huge pool of riders' to choose from. It's under discussion at the moment but hopefully I will find out tomorrow if we can have Thomas or not."

Campbell added: "If Valsarna insist he rides for them we have to go along with that. We would then use the rider replacement facility as cover at Redcar.

"Our best rider round Redcar is Matthew (Wethers) and if he took three of Thomas's rides and Ryan (Fisher) the other, it wouldn't be the end of the world. It's a very difficult match and it would be a tremendous bonus if we win it".

If rivals Somerset Rebels lose at Rye House tonight and go down against Reading and the Isle of Wight on Monday and Tuesday, then Monarchs, even if they lose at Redcar, could clinch the title against Newcastle at Armadale on Friday.

Meanwhile, Campbell has stepped in to defend Jonasson after Stoke Potters captain Ben Barker accused him of trying to put him into the fence during Monarchs' 57-36 triumph at Loomer Road last week.

Barker tried to get past Jonasson on the final turn in heat 12 but the Monarch slammed the door shut on his rival.

There was a fracas in the pits after the race and Stoke boss Dave Tatum felt Jonasson should have been excluded.

But Campbell said: "Referee Stuart Wilson came down to the pits and told Barker the throttle works both ways and he should have shut off. He (Barker) created the danger. From Thomas's point of view he rides in two world-class leagues and, if Barker expects Thomas to pull out of the way so he can win a race, then he knows better now. Coming to that last turn, Barker had a choice, he could have shut off and lost a 5-1. Or go for it to get to the front for a 3-3. He went for a gap that wasn't there.

"If Stoke are suggesting Thomas tried to put Barker into the fence, then they should have listened to what the referee said. He had no problem with the decision he made and gave us the 5-1."

Monarchs postponed derby against Glasgow Tigers may be re-staged on September 19 but, with the Under-21 World Team Championship taking place in Denmark that weekend and involving Jonasson and Glasgow's Robert Ksiezak, it's not been pencilled in as definite yet.