LEICESTER bid to overturn a six-point deficit when they host Ipswich at the Pidcock Motorcycles Arena, Beaumont Park in Monday’s big KO Cup tie (7.30pm).
The Watling JCB Lions worked hard to remain in touch at Foxhall earlier this month and now need to complete the job at home in order to set up a semi-final clash with Peterborough.
The meeting will mark the first appearance at Leicester of former World No.3 Emil Sayfutdinov, who has made a sensational return to British racing this season.
And with former Lions No.1 Jason Doyle, statistically the best rider in the Premiership by a distance, also lining up for the Witches, it will be no easy task to turn around the 42-48 margin.
But the Suffolk side showed they are not infallible this season as they fell to an eight-point home defeat at the hands of Belle Vue last Thursday – and with the Aces due to visit Leicester on Thursday, it underlines the level of competition in the league this year.
Lions boss Stewart Dickson names a full-strength, unchanged side after last week’s hard-fought home win over Peterborough.
The Witches are set to operate rider replacement for Erik Riss, with the German having been absent since the first leg due to illness.
But along with Doyle they have plenty of other Leicester connections, including captain Danny King, former Lion Cubs skipper Danyon Hume, and Rising Star Joe Thompson who will race against his twin brother Dan in what could be some vital clashes between the youngsters.
Leicester captain Chris Harris said: “It’s going to be a tough one. Their top two is fantastic, and Kingy goes well here as well so it’s not going to be easy.
“We can’t take it lightly and we’ve got to make sure we’re all on it, and hopefully we can come out on top.
“I was pleased with Thursday, I think we can all improve in areas, but that was the first home match and only the second meeting we’d been together as a team.
“The team spirit is good, and I think there’s plenty of good signs for this season.”
Gates open at 6pm at the Pidcock Motorcycles Arena, Beaumont Park, with the action getting underway at 7.30pm.
LEICESTER: Max Fricke, Justin Sedgmen, Richard Lawson, Chris Harris, Nick Morris, Jake Allen, Dan Thompson.
IPSWICH: Jason Doyle, Erik Riss R/R, Danny King, Keynan Rew, Emil Sayfutdinov, Danyon Hume, Joe Thompson.
