EUROPEAN PREVIEW

Image courtesy of Taylor Lanning Photography

Woffinden recently returned to the track at Wroclaw just over four months after the horrific pre-season crash at Krosno which initially left him fighting for his life, and then saw him battling his way back from multiple injuries.

The treble World Champion had been due to race for Rzeszow in Metalkas 2. Ekstraliga this season, and the team have qualified for the promotion play-offs in fourth place, where they face title favourites Leszno.

The first leg of that tie takes place on Sunday, with the league leaders strong favourites especially as they won there 51-39 in the league stage back in June.
There had been reports that Woffinden could make a sensational return to competition, but these have proved wide of the mark.

However, he has decided that his long-term future lies not at Rzeszow, but at their second tier rivals Ostrow, who finished second from bottom this season.
Woffinden has agreed a two-year contract with the club who still have to officially fight for their future in the league, with their play-down clash with Lodz to get underway next weekend.

However, the general expectation is that bottom club Tarnow will be relegated given the off-track issues they have suffered, in addition to a record of just two wins all season.

Ostrow have suffered an injury-hit campaign with spells on the sidelines for Luke Becker, Oliver Berntzon and Fredrik Jakobsen, and the latter is now out with a broken wrist shortly after making his comeback from the facial injuries he sustained in the opening round of the SEC at Bydgoszcz.

Their play-down phase kicks off with a home match against Poznan on Sunday, with the teams having drawn 45-45 in late June, although at that stage Tarnow were able to track a stronger line-up.

Those are the only two club fixtures in Poland this weekend, with the focus being on the third round of the Individual championship which takes place at Czestochowa on Friday.

Patryk Dudek takes a four-point lead into the meeting ahead of Dominik Kubera, with Bartosz Zmarzlik a further two points behind in third.

Meanwhile, preparations are now being made for the Swedish Bauhaus-Ligan play-offs after the final meeting of the regular competition was completed on Wednesday.

That match saw Lejonen win 47-43 at Indianerna, with Kubera (12+2) and Kacper Woryna (13) clinching the victory with a 4-2 in Heat 15.

League leaders Vastervik had first choice of quarter-final opponents, and that means Robert Lambert and Tom Brennan will be heading to Dackarna for the first leg next week.

Smederna then chose to face Indianerna, leaving Adam Ellis and Rospiggarna to go up against Lejonen in the remaining last-six tie.