PLYMOUTH Devils will be without number one and top scorer Jack Holder for their final match of the season when they meet Scunthorpe at the St Boniface Arena on Saturday evening (7.15pm).

The Devils will operate the rider replacement facility to cover the absence of the 20-year-old Australian, who is racing in a World under-21 championship meeting at Pardubice, in the Czech Republic, on Friday.

Because Holder is top of the averages, any of the other team members will be eligible to take a replacement ride.

Scunthorpe and Plymouth dropped into the bottom three following Rye House’s home win over Sheffield on Tuesday.

Scunthorpe were due to visit Sheffield on Wednesday evening, while bottom-of-the-table Redcar are at home to Rye House on Thursday.

Plymouth team manager Lee Trigger admits: “It is very tight at the bottom of the table. It is not where we wanted to be, but it makes it all the more important that we finish the season on a winning note with a victory over Scunthorpe.”

Josh Auty will lead the Scunthorpe side with support from Australian Ryan Douglas while the main body of the team is completed by Austrian Fritz Wallner, Lewis Kerr and former Plymouth rider Michael Palm Toft.

At reserve will be Carl Wilkinson with Exeter-born Connor Coles guesting for the injured Josh Bailey.

Plymouth: Rider replacement for Jack Holder, Kyle Newman, Stefan Nielsen, Sam Simota, Todd Kurtz. Reserves: Steve Boxall, Ellis Perks.

Scunthorpe: Josh Auty, Michael Palm Toft, Lewis Kerr, Fritz Wallner, Ryan Douglas. Reserves: Carl Wilkinson, Connor Coles.