NEWPORT Mike Manning Audio Wasps start the final weeks of the 2011 speedway season tonight with every chance of gaining a top-four British Premier League finish.

It‘s quite a remarkable achievement that the Wasps are even in this situation considering the appalling start they made to the campaign.

They managed only two wins from the opening 12 fixtures and that included losing their first five home meetings at their Queensway Meadows home.

That form had them sitting rock bottom of the 14-strong league before much-needed team changes transformed their fortunes.

Dashing Dane Charlie Gjedde has been truly magnificent since arriving from Berwick Bandits, Australian ace Jason Doyle has proved a brilliant signing while Swedish star Anders Mellgren has shown a vast improvement since re-joining.

Skipper Leigh Lanham has been in inspirational form since dropping down from the number-one berth to five and another Swede, Robin Aspegren, has also show a massive hike in form while Australian reserves Mark Jones and Todd Kurtz have both chipped in with vital scores.

It all came together earlier this month when the Wasps lifted the BPL Knockout Cup with a two-legged, 106-74 aggregate win over champions Glasgow Tigers.

Now comes three more meetings, tonight’s home clash with Berwick, Friday’s away clash with the same opponents and the visit of Edinburgh Monarchs next Saturday.

The home fixtures with Berwick and Edinburgh start at 7pm and 6pm respectively.

Berwick, who were also scheduled to be in away BPL action against Plymouth Devils last night, are minus injured Swede Sebastian Alden.

However they have managed to recruit Queensway Meadows Stadium track-expert David Howe, of Scunthorpe Scorpions, as a guest replacement.

The Wasps also use rider replacement for Australian ace Jason Doyle, who is now back in the UK and recovering well after undergoing recent corrective surgery to a shoulder problem.

Newport Mike Manning Audio Wasps: Robin Aspegren; Charlie Gjedde; Mark Jones; Todd Kurtz; Leigh Lanham; Anders Mellgren; rider replacement for Jason Doyle.

Berwick Bandits: David Howe (Scunthorpe Scorpions, guest for Sebastian Alden); Lee Complin; Mitch Davey; Alex Edberg; Linus Eklof; Josef Franc; Jade Mudgway.

- Newport Drillerman Hornets have finally re-arranged one of their two outstanding National League fixtures and will visit Belle Vue Aces on Monday (tapes up at 7.30pm). However there remains a home clash with Scunthorpe/ Sheffield to fit in before the last day of the 2011 season on October 31.