LEICESTER race their first away match in nearly a month when they head to Ipswich in the Sports Insure Premiership on Thursday (7.30pm).
The Watling JCB Lions have put good points on the board at the Pidcock Motorcycles Arena, Beaumont Park in their two home outings in May, and they sit third in the early league table ahead of the trip to Foxhall.
It will be their second visit of the season to the Suffolk venue after a 48-42 defeat in the KO Cup back in early April, which was the Lions’ first meeting of 2023 and one where they felt they could have got even closer to the Witches.
Since then, Ipswich have put themselves into a consistent run of home form, including a big win over Peterborough a fortnight ago as they look to make further Cup progress, and of course they are led by the powerhouse spearhead of Jason Doyle and Emil Sayfutdinov.
The Witches have made one change since early season with Ben Barker now re-joining the club on a short-term deal to cover for Erik Riss, who has been struggling with illness since Easter.
For the Lions, Richard Lawson sits out the meeting following his heavy crash in Heat 15 of the home win over Sheffield, which resulted in a stay in hospital.
Lawson will hopefully be fit to return for the Lions’ re-arranged visit to Peterborough next Monday (May 29), and they will operate rider replacement at Foxhall with all members of the side eligible for an extra outing.
Manager Stewart Dickson said: “We looked at the guest options, and there was one in particular who I was keen on, but unfortunately he was unavailable.
“However, with the way the teams line up I don’t feel R/R is a bad alternative at all, and it means I have plenty of choice within the team.
“We know we have people who can get round that track and it feels like things are beginning to come together after the last couple of performances at home, so we’ll certainly be going there in a positive frame of mind.”
Leicester also remind supporters that there is action at the Pidcock Motorcycles Arena, Beaumont Park on Saturday when the Lion Cubs face Kent in the National Development League (7pm).
IPSWICH: Jason Doyle, Ben Barker, Danny King, Keynan Rew, Emil Sayfutdinov, Danyon Hume, Joe Thompson.
LEICESTER: Max Fricke, Justin Sedgmen, Richard Lawson R/R, Chris Harris, Nick Morris, Jake Allen, Dan Thompson.
