BRILLIANT Australian youngster Darcy Ward will deputise for the injured Krzysztof Kasprzak when Birmingham face Belle Vue at Perry Barr tonight.

Ward, who has been in sensational form for parent club Poole in recent weeks, has agreed to make a guest appearance for the Brummies in their final home league outing of the season.

Kasprzak was initially ruled out because of the Polish Final but that was cancelled and it looked as though he was clear to race.

But in Thursday’s thrilling win over Peterborough at Perry Barr he crashed out and suffered rib injuries, which have ruled him out of tonight’s action.

Boss Graham Drury said: “There is no doubt Ward is one of the hottest properties in world speedway right now.

“We are very pleased to have him on board and after seeing him race at Wolverhampton last Monday he is bang on form.

“Hopefully, his presence will help bring out the best in the rest of the team, too.

“I have told KK we will talk again before making a decision on when he returns but I need to be sure he is totally fit. We need him to do the job required.

“Belle Vue know this is probably the last-chance saloon for their play-off hopes but after beating Wolves and Peterborough in our last two home meetings we feel confident.”

The Aces are an outside bet for the play-offs and defeat tonight will end their hopes of a top-four finish.

Brummies include Ben Barker in their side as he has no Plymouth duties in the Premier League and Ulrich Ostergaard faces the club he rode for last season.

Belle Vue’s spearhead includes British Grand Prix star Chris Harris, who scored ten points on his way to the Scandinavian GP semi-final in Sweden on Saturday.

And Rory Schlein is a Perry Barr specialist who is also on a fine run of form.

BIRMINGHAM: Darcy Ward, Ales Dryml, Danny King, Ben Barker, Daniel Nermark, Ulrich Ostergaard, Claus Vissing.

BELLE VUE: Chris Harris, Patrick Hougaard, Craig Cook, Charlie Gjedde, Rory Schlein, Ricky Kling, Lukasz Jankowski.