King's Lynn's flying Aussie Troy Batchelor wants to draw first blood against Premier League title rivals Workington on Wednesday night.The Stars have crushed all-comers at Saddlebow this season and Batchelor is looking to continue that trend in a Premier Trophy semi-final dress rehearsal.

King's Lynn's flying Aussie Troy Batchelor wants to draw first blood against Premier League title rivals Workington on Wednesday night.

The Stars have crushed all-comers at Saddlebow this season and Batchelor is looking to continue that trend in a Premier Trophy semi-final dress rehearsal.

“We are on a roll right now, which breeds confidence,” said the 18-year-old. “If we can beat them it takes Workington down as well. Last season in the cups we smoked Rye House first time around and did it again soon after - it almost gets into a rider's mind when they face certain teams. Our top five is hardly dropping a point at home and the reserves are scoring too.

“On the road we've drawn at Sheffield and won at Mildenhall recently, although I think that had been coming. Guys like Kevin (Doolan) and Tomas (Topinka) will always score and now Trevor (Harding) has really picked up his game.”

Batchelor admits he is desperate to recapture his own blistering form from Lynn's march to KO Cup and Young Shield success last season.

“I'm struggling a little at the moment,” he said. “It's one of those spells when you have to get your head down and work through it. At Sheffield I had to use three different bikes and that doesn't help your rhythm. Then I rode in an open meeting at Newport over the weekend and had four crashes - none of them was really my fault.”

Batchelor's formidable Norfolk Arena double act with vice-captain Doolan remains in full working order.

The teenager powered to his third maximum of the season during last week's 70-20 KO Cup rout against Berwick.

“It's something that comes naturally,” said Batchelor. “I remember him running over me by accident in one of my early meetings - you start to learn the lines after that.

“Kevin helped me a lot in my first full season. We shared the same house last year and we're good friends on and off the track. At home meetings we just know where we need to be.”

The Australian U21 runner-up chases personal glory in next month's World U21 semi-final in Pocking, Germany.

“At the start of the season I set myself goals and one was to make the final,” he said. “With a lot of people's help I'll definitely be trying to do that. Right now I'm just tinkering with engines and set-ups, but I rode the track earlier this season.

“It's big and slick and I won a race that day. I think the top six qualify so it will be tough but for my own progression I need to be competing against those type of riders.”

Parade 7.30pm, first race 7.45pm.