Rob Lyon admits a home derby victory tonight could provide the spark that reignites King's Lynn's season.

The Stars boss has watched on almost helplessly as his men have been hit by a horror run of injuries and form since early May to slip out of the play-off places. But he knows a third win from four 2013 meetings against fierce rivals Peterborough Panthers would lift some of the gloom that has engulfed the Norfolk Arena.

Lyon, whose team have won just once in their last nine meetings, said: 'It's the ideal opportunity to get things going again.

'Peterborough is a local derby and beating them would be a great way to kick-start the last third of our season. Losing becomes a habit as much as winning does. We owe them one and it's time for everyone to get behind us and the team.'

Former Stars rider Kozza Smith comes in as a guest for the injured Nicklas Porsing as sixth-placed Lynn look to heap more misery on the Elite League's basement boys.

But a 54-39 defeat in the last A47 derby less than a fortnight ago, and a 50-40 loss at Belle Vue Aces on Monday, has also left Lyon's riders low on confidence, especially Australian Rory Schlein.

'We deserved at least a point at Belle Vue,' said Lynn's chief.

'I asked for commitment and effort and I got 100pc. But Rory was suffering again and he's a big concern for us.

'People have got to get behind him to help make it happen for him. He's a committed club man and you can't become a bad rider overnight. He's just in a rut with his machinery, his confidence is low, and hopefully he can get out of it. Double figures tonight could kick-start it for him too.'

Lynn: 1 Niels-Kristian Iversen, 2 Lasse Bjerre, 3 Mads Korneliussen, 4 Richie Worrall, 5 Rory Schlein, 6 Kozza Smith (guest), 7 Andzejs Lebedevs

Panthers: 1 Kenneth Bjerre, 2 Mikkel Bech (G), 3 Rider/Replacement, 4 Krzysztof Buczkowski, 5 Joonas Kylmakorpi, 6 Dakota North, 7 Patrick Hougaard