Newcastle travel to Workington tonight for a Premier Trophy match against the Comets - the only side to have been beaten by the Diamonds this season.
At the beginning of this month, Newcastle beat Workington 49-47 in a thriller at Byker and hoped it might prove the spark to set off a run of much-needed victories.
Sadly, however, the Diamonds have suffered three more defeats since then.
And, with Workington still in with a shout of reaching the Premier Trophy semi-finals, only a supreme optimist would fancy Newcastle's chances at Derwent Park.
Three Newcastle riders, skipper Richard Juul, Kevin Little and former Comet Lee Smethills, each ride their 12th match this year, which means they will qualify for new averages.
Juul has had a good season in the struggling side and has lifted his average by roughly half-a-point.
But Little and Smethills are both around one-and-a-half points down on their start-of-season figures.
It will be another month or so before the two most recent acquisitions, Kristian Lund and Lee Dicken, complete 12 matches.
With the Premier League campaign beginning next week, the Newcastle management will have to act swiftly if they are to bring in fresh faces.
Co-promoter Darryl Illingworth said: " It is desperately important we arrest the slide.
"We are working day and night to try and bring in two top-line riders. Unlike other sports, however, speedway is strictly governed by averages and rules which prevent Elite League riders with an average of 6.00 or more from riding in the Premier League.
"With new overseas riders being given a 9.00 assessed average until they have completed a minimum of 12 matches over here, the situation is far from straightforward.
" But, if it is at all possible, we will have a revamped team for the fans to watch in the Diamonds' next home match on Monday, May 31, against Edinburgh in the Premier Trophy."
On Sunday, (3.00) the spotlight falls on junior side the Ultrafast Gems, who will be racing a Conference League Brough Park double-header against runaway leaders Mildenhall and Weymouth.
William Lawson, unbeaten in 11 races in his two matches since rejoining the Gems, will have his work cut out to remain undefeated against a powerful Mildenhall side.
Admission prices for the 30 heats of action are adults £8, concessions £5 and children £3.
