SWINDON Robins rider Troy Batchelor believes an SGB Premiership play-off place should be within their grasp as long as the team’s top five riders can maintain the high standards they have set this season.

The race for a top-four finish is likely to be hotly contested all the way through to September as four teams hunt one place.

Poole Pirates, Belle Vue Aces and Ipswich Witches have pulled a gap on the rest of the division, with the remaining teams separated by only five points.

Alun Rossiter’s Robins solidified their position as the leading contender of that group in fourth place following a 52-38 win at home to Wolverhampton Wolves last Thursday.

Batchelor top scored for Swindon in that meeting with a haul of 13+3 from six rides, while skipper and fellow Australian Jason Doyle notched 11+1 from four outings and was not beaten by a Wolves rider all night.

Those two both boast an average of more than nine this season, while Rasmus Jensen continued his excellent form since a mid-season arrival at the Abbey Stadium by posting 12 points from six rides against Wolverhampton.

Swindon had to cope with more changes in personnel against the Midlands side as Tobiasz Musielak returned after an injury absence to replace David Bellego, while Adam Ellis missed out due to an injury of his own.

The Robins’ position is all the more commendable given the issues they have had to deal with, and Batchelor says the leading figures in the team must continue to contribute highly.

“Obviously we have seen quite a few changes to the team this year and that is not ideal, but you try not to think about that as a rider. You just try to concentrate on your own job,” said Batchelor.

“Jason and myself know there is a bit of responsibility on our shoulders and I think we are both doing pretty well in the averages this year.

“It is not about two riders, though, as someone like Rasmus has come in and done a really good job and other guys have stepped up too.

“I think we’ve got the best top five in the league. Hopefully that will go a long way to helping us where we want to be at the end of the season.”

Swindon return to action at the Abbey on Thursday when they host Belle Vue Aces in the Premiership, while their next meeting after that is also on home shale.

Rossiter’s side have struggled in away meetings this term and have picked up just two points from six fixtures away from Blunsdon.

Skipper Doyle is therefore eager for that form to improve quickly.

“It’s important that we keep moving up the table,” said Doyle.

“It was good to win on Thursday against Wolves and getting that 5-1 in heat 13 to get all the points made it a bit easier in heat 15.

“We now have Tobiasz (Muiselak) back, so that is good. It is a shame David Bellego had to leave because he was doing a really good job for us, but hopefully Tobiasz is back to full fitness and can come back into the team scoring good points.

“There is still a long road to go. We have still got a lot of matches and we need to start winning on the road.”