By Adam Summers - Dorset Echo

Weymouth Doonan Wildcats chairman Phil Bartlett wants his riders to end their hoodoo at the Devils' lair tonight by capturing a positive Conference Trophy first leg result at the St Boniface Arena. The Wildcats have always tended to fall on hard times at Plymouth but the Wessex Stadium outfit's chief is more confident than he has ever been that his men can finally put one over his former club on their own patch.

Bartlett said: "We want to go and beat them this time. The track at their place is horrible and we have never actually won there but they cannot always have it their own way. They have got a strong side and it will be tough but we are also looking good and the lads know they can turn them over."

Despite Bartlett's optimism, it is the Devils who enter the semi-final clash as favourites due to their 110-68 aggregate mauling of the Wildcats in the Devon & Dorset Cup last month. On that occasion Plymouth thumped Weymouth 61-29 at home before recording a 49-39 success at the Wessex the following night. But the result was more of an indication of a mechanical nightmare for the Wildcats than one of supremacy and Bartlett is quite happy with the tag of being underdogs.

He added: "We had a lot of mechanical problems at the start of the season but things are working well now and we have gelled as a unit. All our riders are capable of picking up points and if we can keep the margin down tonight to six or eight points then we will have a great chance of turning the tables on our own turf tomorrow evening. Any more than that then it becomes difficult because of the tactical ride."

The Wildcats' home meeting against Wimbledon Dons last week had to be abandoned due to heavy rain but that still has not stopped them being ready and primed for action. Bartlett said: "Luke Priest rode at Stoke in the Premier League last Wednesday and Jay Herne has been in action at the Isle of Wight and King's Lynn for Reading, so despite last week's postponement we are in good shape and raring to go."