Team boss Rob Lyon hopes his patched-up King's Lynn Stars side can build on their outstanding midweek display at Poole by picking up at least a point at Coventry this evening.

Lynn were tantalisingly close to ending the Elite League leaders' 15-match unbeaten run on Wednesday before a 5-1 set back in the final heat robbed them of a famous victory.

However, Niels-Kristian Iversen, Maciej Janowski, captain Mads Korneliussen and David Howe, who didn't ride in Dorset, will all be unable to help influence the Stars' play-off surge tonight.

Lyon has been forced to draft in three guests – Belle Vue's Rory Schlein, Swindon's Simon Stead and Wolverhampton's Ricky Wells – but believes the trio are more than capable of helping Lynn continue their improved away form of late.

Lyon said: 'I was very proud of the boys at Poole. They were a credit to the club and gave everything. 'We deserved better but the tactical ride went against us and that made the difference. The display gives us something to build on – a springboard. We're more than capable of reaching the play-offs and we need to keep picking points up off those around us, including tonight.

'It will be interesting, even if it's a bit of a farce. It's not a King's Lynn side racing at Coventry, it's a King's Lynn select side. But you can't do a lot about that. The match has to be run and we've got no control over that. Ricky Wells has been on fire and Rory Schlein is a good replacement for Niels. We've put together the best team we can.'

Double-up rider Howe is racing for Scunthorpe while Iversen, Janowski and Korneliussen are competing in Grand Prix qualifiers. Lynn will operate rider/replacement for the latter.

Belle Vue number one Schlein rode for Bees from 2005-10 and Wells started his career with the Brandon outfit and still remains a Bees asset.

Nick Morris, Coventry's rider of the year last season, was going to guest for Lynn but was replaced by Stead this morning.

Co-promoter Jonathan Chapman said on Twitter: 'Nick Morris in Poland tonight so Simon Stead will guest for Stars instead. Thanks to @AJRosco (Alun Rossiter, Swindon team boss) for his help in sorting it at the last minute.'

Coventry will be without a heat leader of their own, Kenni Larsen, and have replaced him with Birmingham heat-leader Sebastian Ulamek for the meeting. Scott Nicholls is sidelined with a broken collarbone.

Bees co-boss Colin Pratt told Coventry's official website: 'It's another team coming to Brandon with half of their side being ex-Coventry riders, but we mustn't let it affect us. We've got to get stuck into the meeting, we want to win it and take maximum points.'

Sixth-placed Lynn picked up a point at Coventry, currently ninth in the table, during a 47-43 defeat in April.

Coventry: 1 Edward Kennett, 2 Kenni Larsen (R/R), 3 Chris Harris, 4 Aaron Summers, 5 Sebastian Ulamek, 6 Adam Roynon, 7 Henning Bager

King's Lynn: 1 Rory Schlein (G), 2 Mads Korneliussen (R/R), 3 Simon Stead (G), 4 Ricky Wells (G), 5 Daniel Nermark, 6 Mateusz Szczepaniak, 7 Kevin Wolbert