Only one top flight side is unbeaten in pre-season to date and ominously for those looking to wrestle the title away from Timperley, that side is the current champions. In it’s design team building to a total average penalises those successful the most, the Titans do not seemed hampered by their SL25 title victory so far, despite jettisoning two of their lead quartet from last years side. One of those spots has been taken by Michael Connolly—promoted into the top four—the other by American Ricky Lewis, who joins in a cash and rider swap deal worth £750,000. Gary Robinson’s move for the 29 year old brought to an end a nine year spell at Rugby for a rider that went close to winning the world title back in SL21. That season one of five he has spent in the GP series, last year he finished fifth in the world, winning the British round on his own club circuit along the way. Giving his pedigree it is of no surprise that Lewis has begun his Timperley career on the front foot, he adding to double figure scores in his opening two meetings with a 15 point maximum as the Titans beat Greenhill 47-43 at home this week. Three meets unbeaten for Timperley became four when they fought back from a four point deficit to win at Wroughton, 44-46, no Lewis in heat 15 this time, but he did claim a vital third in the heat 13 4-2 which gave his side the lead late on in the clash. A sound top four, but problems in the lower order with Thomas Petter Gjesdal failing to impress, leading Robinson to spend £50,000 on a late replacement this week, Abdulaziz Nemov in from Lyme Bay, a gamble, but one worth taking as the Titans bid for glory again.