But promoter Chris Van Straaten said his captain was “raring to go”.

“He’s declared himself fit,” said Van Straaten. “He’s given up two matches in Poland to take rest and intensive physiotherapy.

“He missed a Polish League match on Friday and an opening booking in Poland (yesterday) and is raring to go.”

Karlsson will need to be as near full fitness as possible – he is likely to face new world champion Jason Crump in three heats over the course of a match vital to both teams’ play-off hopes.

Wolves, realistically, have to beat the Aces tonight, win at Coventry tomorrow and again at Poole on Wednesday to make the Elite League play-offs.

If Belle Vue lose tonight they can still qualify – the Aces are virtually guaranteed the bonus point with a 26-point advantage – but would be heavily dependent on results elsewhere. Coventry, with the points on the board, are best placed but Wolves’ fate is in their own hands.

The Parrys International Wolves, with the return of the suspended Magnus Karlsson, are at full strength tonight while the Aces use rider-replacement for Joe Screen who suffered two crushed vertebrae and a broken collar-bone in a grasstrack smash in Cornwall.

The Wolves top order of Peter Karlsson, Freddie Lindgren and Billy Hamill has been in splendid form but will need more back-up if the team is to prevail this evening.

Lindgren, who marked his 21st birthday in midweek with a paid maximum in Poland, was in good fettle in the same country yesterday.

He scored 15 points out of Sweden’s 27 in the world under-21 team championship in Rybnik which gave them second place behind winners Poland. Denmark were third with Christian Hefenbrock scoring 10 for Germany.

Hamill, meanwhile, followed a total of three successive maximums across Britain and Poland with 10 points from four rides in the latter country in midweek.

“I’ve had three maximums in a row – man, I haven’t done that for quite a while,” said the 36-year-old. “I feel good. I feel that I’m there. I just want to keep that momentum.”

The American replaces Lindgren to join Peter Karlsson at Poole on October 1 in the Elite League Riders Championship. The event was previously rained off and Lindgren has qualified – alongside Hefenbrock – for the European final at Miskolc, Hungary on the same date.

Wolves: Peter Karlsson, Ronnie Correy, Christian Hefenbrock, Billy Hamill, Freddie Lindgren, William Lawson, Magnus Karlsson.

Belle Vue: Simon Stead, Rider-replacement for Joe Screen, Kenneth Bjerre, James Wright, Jason Crump, Phil Morris, Tom P Madsen.

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