NEWPORT Mavericks travel to face Somerset tonight (7.30pm) with promoter Tim Stone saying his side are brimming with confidence against the top-placed Rebels.

Somerset currently top the Conference League with four wins from five at home this season, but Newport have Rob Finlow, who set a new track record at Oak Tree Arena of 58.79secs in May.

Fifth-placed Newport include Tom Brown, who rode for the senior Wasps side in their 67-23 defeat against Exeter on Wednesday night, and he will be looking to put the heavy defeat behind him as Mavericks hunt for a win.

After making their Conference debut last year, the Rebels are in their second season and their oval track tends to favour those first out of the gates.

Stone said his side were confident of a win and added: "We don't fear them, their track has no straights to speak of and it's not a hard track to race on.

"It's a bit of a gater's track if you can get away quick, it's difficult to be over-taken." Stone also praised the form of Finlow, who has coped well on his promotion to the Newport Wasps side in difficult circumstances.

He said: "Rob has been thrown in at the deep end at the higher level, but still coped well and I am very happy he is a Newport asset."

In opposition, the Rebels have Simon Phillips who is hoping to make the step-up from Conference League racing with Somerset to the Premier League with Trelawny next season.

Phillips is eyeing the switch to the higher league after replacing broken wrist victim Wayne Barrett.

Phillips' older brother Mark may also be riding against the Mavericks - one of life's more colourful characters, Phillips senior rides with an undertakers hat strapped over his crash helmet. But Mavericks plan to bury his side.

Another Rebel of note is rider Steve Bishop, back from injury, who finished second in last season's Conference League Championship to Newport's Scott Pegler. Newport Mavericks: 1-Scott Pegler, 2-David Gough, 3-Martin Williams R/Replacement, 4-Chris Hunt, 5-Rob Finlow, 6-Tom Brown, 7-Simon Walker.