PETER Schroeck believes Oxford Cheetahs can achieve a play-off place after announcing their team for 2023.

Sam Masters and Lewis Kerr are the two new faces, and Oxford Speedway team manager Schroeck believes the duo can play a key role next year.

Masters, the 2017 Australian champion, will lead the Cheetahs in next year’s British Speedway Championship, while Kerr was a Championship Pairs winner last year.

Captain Scott Nicholls remains with the Cheetahs, as does Cameron Heeps, while Henry Atkins, Luke Killeen and Jordan Jenkins make the step up from development side Oxford Chargers.

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“Sam speaks for himself, he gives us a lot of strength,” said Schroeck.

“Lewis is a tough little cookie, I’ve known him for a long time.

“They’re the sort of guys who when it gets to Heat 13, there’ll be a lot of pace in them.

“We’ve got a good mixture with Scott Nicholls our captain, and I think we’ll get the best out of Cameron – he’ll improve his average.

“Jordan Jenkins is coming in with no pressure and I’m sure he’ll improve.

“Henry came in from Plymouth [Gladiators], where he was a bit deflated and needed a change.

“All the fans have taken him into their hearts, he’s an entertainer.

“With young Luke, he took a while to get his licence sorted but he hit the ground running straight away.

“He’s been training in Australia and keeping fit – he’s got a point to prove, not to us but to himself.”

Getting the team sorted way ahead of the 2023 season was crucial for Schroeck.

He said: “The last six to eight weeks, we’ve been looking at which way to go.

“Sam is really excited to take the opportunity to come to Oxford, and when that fell into place, the rest of it formed from there.

“Knowing the team now is good for the sponsors and us as well.”

On what the Cheetahs can achieve with this team, Schroeck said: “Last year, we were in the position of the last ones to come in – this year, we’re starting that new chapter.

“As a whole, we can have a successful season.

“Your aim is to get into the play-offs, we do believe we have built a side which is a better one compared to last year.

“Hopefully we’ll have no injuries to deal with, which let us down in the last year.

“I do think we can push for a play-off place this year.”

He added: “We’ve learnt a lot as a club, we came back after 15 years and had to learn very quickly.

“The support has been absolutely phenomenal from the Oxford area.”