Australian Travis McGowan makes a rare appearance at the Hayley Stadium when he lines-up for Newport Wasps against Premier League leaders Berwick on Sunday (tapes-up 2pm).

The meeting starts 30 minutes earlier than usual after the British Speedway Promoters' Association gave the thumbs up for the meeting to go ahead with the Championship of Great Britain final at Oxford in the evening, giving fans the opportunity to watch both meetings. The Oxford meeting starts at 7pm.

The 24-year-old McGowan, from Victoria, steps in as a guest for the injured Craig Watson because promoter Tim Stone cannot use Stuart Robson again under the eight-day ruling.

McGowan certainly has not been a regular at Newport but he did appear for Young Australia against Young England nearly five years ago. In total he has represented young Australia on eleven occasions. He is an Oxford asset but kicked-off his club career in Great Britain with King's Lynn.

McGowan is in his third season with Oxford having made the move from King's Lynn at the same time Nigel Wagstaff went from the Norfolk Arena club to take control at Oxford.

McGowan, who has gained an 18-point maximum during his career at the Cowley Stadium, began the season on a 5.74 average - marginally better than former Newport favourite Niels-Kristian Iversen.

Robson will be back to ride at Newcastle on Monday and Lee Dicken will also be returning to one of his former clubs - and that's exactly the position in which Carl Wilkinson will find himself, coming back to his parent club with Berwick

l Newport's Karlis Ezergailis performed creditably guesting for Newcastle at Exeter on Monday night, scoring three points from five rides, and after heat ten he was the only visitors' rider to have been ahead in a race. Newcastle lost 60-35.

Ezergailis led home rider Pavel Ondrasik in heat two - the reserve race - until the final bend when the former Wasp blasted through on the outside.

The young Australian was also booked for the postponed rain-hit meeting on the Isle of Wight last night, replacing injured fellow Australian Christian Henry who has been troubled by left knee ligament damage following a crash on his Brough Park track against King's Lynn.

Henry may also miss the home meeting with Newport scheduled for Monday.

Welshman Phil Morris was back to form on Sunday after failing to score in two successive meetings. He top scored for Newcastle with 13 points in the 58-38 win over King's Lynn and was quick to thank the Brough Park fans for their backing. In the defeat at Exeter he scored seven points from four rides.