WOLVERHAMPTON favourite Luke Becker insists he and his team-mates will head to Swindon in determined mood on Thursday. (7.30).

It comes after the Parrys International Wolves lost 49-39 in the first leg of their Premiership Play-Off Semi-Final at Monmore Green on Wednesday.

An unexpected downpour shortly before start time levelled things out somewhat with Wolves losing any prior home track advantage.

And after some hard work by the track staff, it was the visitors who adapted to conditions better as they opened up a six-point lead with three races gone.

American reserve Becker provided the hosts with their first race winner in Heat 4, with Jacob Thorssell settling in for third to record their first advantage.

And they took the lead in the next in dramatic fashion when both Swindon riders crashed out of the fifth.

2017 World Champion Jason Doyle slid off in the opening bends before Adam Ellis came down on his own, gifting Wolves a 5-0.

But a series of errors from the Monmore men would eventually come back to bite them.

Kyle Howarth tried to move into third place too soon in Heat 6, as did Becker as a reserve substitution in Heat 10.

At that point the damage wasn't too bad thanks to a 5-1 from skipper Rory Schlein and Nick Morris in the re-run of the ninth after Troy Batchelor stayed down unsportingly in the initial staging.

But the visitors would come on strong as they made the better of the starts to secure two further maximums in the space of three races.

And the ten point gap was formed as Peter Adams' men handed back a gift 5-0 in the penultimate race with both Morris and Becker crashing out.

"It really was quite difficult out there and for us as the home team it definitely wasn't what we're used to," Becker said.

"But no excuses here. It's obviously not ideal to lose at home but we've had a good chat in the changing rooms and we'll be ready for Thursday.

"None of us are down, none of us are thinking it's over, we're hungry and we know we've got what it takes to pull it off.

"If we can get a couple of early 5-1s, we'll only be two-points down overall and they'll start to feel it.

"That's the mindset we've got to have and anything is possible in Speedway - it's not over until it's over."

WOLVERHAMPTON 39: Rory Schlein 10, Sam Masters 8+2, Luke Becker 8, Nick Morris 4+2, Jacob Thorssell 4, Ryan Douglas 3+1, Kyle Howarth 2.
SWINDON 49: Jason Doyle 11+1, Tobiasz Musielak 11, Claus Vissing 7, Adam Ellis 6, Rasmus Jensen 5+2, Troy Batchelor 5+2, Ellis Perks 4.

Picture: PAUL ROSE