���˿���

Captain Danny King has backed Ipswich Witches to challenge for the Premiership title after finalising their rider line-up for next year.

The Witches lost 92-88 to Leicester Lions in the 2024 play-offs after a shoulder injury robbed them of former world champion Jason Doyle for much of the season.

The Australian will return in 2025, along with last season's leading scorer Emil Sayfutdinov, and they have signed Tom Brennan, a member of the Poole Pirates title-winning team.

"It's going to be a fantastic season," King told ���˿��� Radio Suffolk. "Last year it was really strange - at some point every single rider in the team was out injured. I don't think I've ever experienced that in my career.

"But we've managed to keep the main part of that team and we've brought in an exciting rider in Tom Brennan, so I think if anything we're possibly stronger and hopefully we can go on and finish what we didn't do this year."

Ipswich's last success came in the 2023 Knockout Cup, but their hopes of retaining the trophy were ended by a 100-80 aggregate defeat by Sheffield Tigers.

They have won the domestic league title on four occasions, but last did so in 1998.

King believes having Doyle and Sayfutdinov - who also missed part of last season after a heavy crash in August - is key to their chances of ending their wait for another title next year.

"Everyone knows they're the main two guys in the league, so we're very fortunate to have them both in our team," he said.

"The way that they want to ride for Ipswich speaks volumes - we've got them back, and (if they stay) injury free, we've got a very good chance."