Fans will see if dirt-track stars Luke Richards and Marty McNamara can make a successful switch to speedway, which ­brother, Todd or Brady Kurtz, comes out on top, or if Max Fricke can continue his winning habit from 2014.

But standing in their way will be a strong contingent of Hunter ­riders including home town hero Rohan Tungate, who returns from a UK season with the Ipswich Witches, Jye Etheridge and Josh Pickering.

Multiple national motorcycle dirt track champions Richards and McNamara have both raced in speedway.

And with motorcycle dirt track racing going into recess in November and December, the two riders have taken the opportunity to enter this weekend’s time-­honoured speedway event.

Richards and McNamara have super impressive dirt track records and their form has once again lived up to reputation in 2014. 

The pair capped off their great dirt track season with an ­unforgettable 1-2 finish in the prestigious Akubra Classic at Kempsey. 

Richards turned the tables on former three-time World Superbike Champion Troy Bayliss, who wrested the Australian Dirt Track title from him earlier in the year. 

Bayliss led the Kempsey Classic until the last lap, when both Richards and McNamara, who had pressured Bayliss all the way, forced their way past to take the spoils.

Richards and McNamara know they have it all to do this Saturday in coming up against a quality field that contains no less than five riders with international experience.

It will not be their first time in speedway as both riders have ­competed periodically in the past. 

But making the switch is not as easy as it may seem.

One of those international riders is Fricke. 

The 18-year-old from Mansfield in Victoria won the Australian Under 21 Speedway Championship, successfully def­end­ing the title he won at Kurri Kurri Speedway in 2013. 

He returned to the United Kingdom for another stint with British Premier League Club, Edinburgh Monarchs. 

Fricke played a key role in the club’s victory in the 2014 League Championship against Somerset Rebels and he partnered clubmate Sam Masters from Newcastle to win the 2014 British Premier League Best Pairs Championship held at Somerset.

Since his return to Australia, Fricke is yet to notch a win, with a frustrating run of minor podiums. 

His first meeting was at Kurri Kurri Speedway in the 2014 NSW Under 21 Speedway Champion­ship, where he finished third to Brady Kurtz and Jack Holder. 

Once again, he comes up against arch rival Brady Kurtz, so the task doesn’t get any easier.

Brady will have family pride at stake, with older brother and Somerset Rebels teammate Todd in the field.

Brady has swept all before him in his past three race meetings at Kurri Kurri Speedway. 

Twelve months ago he won the 2013 NSW Speedway Solo Championship and in the past two months the 18-year-old has won the 2014 NSW Under 21 Speedway Championship and ­successfully defended his NSW Speedway Solo Championship a fortnight ago. 

He has won 14 of the 18 races that have taken him to victory in those three race meetings.

Todd finished fourth in the 2013 NSW Speedway Solo Championship. 

He has a consistent record at the Kurri Kurri venue and he is ­expected to be right in the firing line again this Saturday.

The main event will be sup­ported by junior 125 and junior 250 events with another Cowra rising star, Matthew Gilmore expected to figure prominently.

Gates open at 3pm, with racing starting at 6pm. Tickets are $25 adult, $15 concession, $5 children 10 to 15 years, children under 10 years free and families $60.

Pelaw Main’s Rohan Tungate is keen to atone for his erratic results in the 2014 NSW Speedway Solo Championship two weeks ago when he competes in the 2014 Johnnie Hoskins Founders Cup at Kurri Speedway this Saturday night.

Tungate finished last in his opening qualifying heat in the state title then went on to win his next three races impressively, recording very fast race times.

“I can’t explain it,” a puzzled Tungate said in a trackside interview before the B Final.

“The bike was good, I just wasn’t right for the first race.”

Trying to transfer to the Championship A Final, Tungate pushed hard for the lead in the B Final and fell mid-race, bringing his title chances to a halt.

Tungate is well aware that he will need a 100 per cent concentration effort to win the time honoured Johnnie Hoskins Founders Cup as once again he comes up against arch rivals Brady Kurtz (Cowra) and Max Fricke (Victoria).