LEICESTER have an immediate chance to bounce back to form with a big home clash against Sheffield at the Pidcock Motorcycles Arena, Beaumont Park on Thursday (7.30pm).
The Watling JCB Lions were beaten by an impressive Ipswich side on Monday but still hold a strong position in the Sports Insure Premiership play-off places, which they will look to consolidate against the Tigers.
The Owlerton side also look good for a top four finish, but clubs must be mindful of the threat still provided by Ipswich, who have away fixtures against the current bottom two during the next week and could make further ground towards the play-off zone.
Lions boss Stewart Dickson has elected to revise his riding order, with Richard Lawson and Troy Batchelor exchanging places so Lawson resumes his successful partnership with captain Chris Harris.
Sheffield, meanwhile, hit the headlines earlier this week with the news that triple World Champion Tai Woffinden is joining the club as an injury replacement for Jack Holder.
That arrangement, however, does not begin until next week and therefore the Tigers must use a ‘no facility’ replacement which will see former Leicester rider Connor Mountain guest at No.5.
But the visitors had already become a stronger unit compared to their previous trip to Beaumont Park in May with the signing of the spectacular Josh Pickering, who has slotted into the middle-order in place of David Bellego.
And with important away trips to Wolverhampton and the return against Sheffield next week coming up, with aggregate points in play in those meetings, Dickson has emphasised the importance of the Lions putting the Ipswich defeat behind them.
He said: “I was enjoying the Richard Lawson/Chris Harris partnership, and I think we can get more out of the team overall by moving Richard back to No.3.
“It’s all about the balance, and I want to get the balance back regardless of the fact that on Monday it was a case of the majority of the team having an off-night on the same night – it’s not about individuals, it’s about the team as a whole.
“It’s important that we bounce back, because other teams will be looking at that result and saying to themselves they’ve got a chance at Leicester as well.
“We’ll dust ourselves down for Sheffield, and we’ll re-group and do things sensibly as we always do at Leicester, and we’ll have a right good go on Thursday.”
The club will also be holding their annual collection for the Speedway Riders’ Benevolent Fund during the interval. Supporters are asked to give as generously as their circumstances permit to this most worthy cause.
Please also note that the club have produced a double-issue programme for this meeting, to also include Saturday’s NDL Knockout Cup semi-final against Workington. This will be on sale for the normal price of £3.
LEICESTER: Max Fricke, Justin Sedgmen, Richard Lawson, Chris Harris, Troy Batchelor, Jake Allen, Drew Kemp.
SHEFFIELD: Tobiasz Musielak, Kyle Howarth, Adam Ellis, Josh Pickering, Connor Mountain, Lewis Kerr, Dan Gilkes.
