LEICESTER host a huge double-header of action at the Paul Chapman & Sons Arena on Saturday (6pm) with two league titles up for grabs.
The Watling JCB Lions need to pull back eight points against Poole to win the Championship, whilst the Lion Cubs start their NDL Grand Final against Mildenhall with a healthy 15-point advantage.
The club has been closely monitoring the weather and track situation over recent days, and can confirm that in the current absence of co-promoter Stewart Dickson, two experienced track curators have been brought in to work alongside the existing staff.
Our intention at this stage is that the meeting will be on as scheduled on Saturday evening; however, we do have to be mindful of the fact that further rain is currently forecast early on Saturday morning, although estimates of the intensity vary at this stage.
Consequently we will assess conditions once again on Saturday morning and we will advise supporters of all three clubs as soon as possible as to the status of the meeting.
On track, the Watling JCB Lions will again have Scott Nicholls guesting for skipper Kyle Howarth, and he will take Howarth’s more normal No.5 riding position after the order was shuffled at Wimborne Road on Wednesday.
Poole are at full strength and are looking to secure back-to-back league titles, with the Lions trying to claim back the trophy they last won in 2019.
Stand-in manager Garry May said: “I’ll be sticking with what (line-up) Stewart gave to me, I’ll gee the boys up and we’ll all be talking together.
“We talked as we went through the meeting on Wednesday about the track and so on, and we’ll do the same on Saturday.”
Lions star Richie Worrall said: “Last time they came to Leicester they were only two points shy, but it’s our track, and I think they had a good day and we had a bad one!
“It’s definitely doable, and Wednesday’s result definitely makes the second leg exciting.”
Meanwhile the Lion Cubs will be without Connor Coles for their own Grand Final decider against Mildenhall, after he suffered a broken collarbone at West Row on Thursday.
The Cubs will operate rider replacement for Coles with all team members bar Dan Thompson eligible for a ride, and Max James is named at No.8.
The Fen Tigers’ full line-up is currently uncertain after a spate of crashes on Thursday, with Jack Kingston having been signed out of that meeting with concussion, and he therefore faces a mandatory absence.
Like the Lions, the Lion Cubs are also seeking to secure a second league title in three seasons, having triumphed in 2019 when they defeated Kent in the Final, and it would also complete a league and KO Cup double.
Normal Championship admission prices apply, with no increase for the double-header. The programme originally produced for last Saturday’s meeting will be used, along with a 4-page insert to cover the Lion Cubs match. Season tickets are not valid.
There will also be further action at the Paul Chapman & Sons Arena on Monday with the sixth and final round of the Premiership Pairs, getting underway at 7.30pm.
LEICESTER: Nick Morris, Connor Mountain, Richie Worrall, Dan Thompson, Scott Nicholls, Joe Thompson, Max Clegg.
POOLE: Danny King, Ben Cook, Steve Worrall, Drew Kemp, Richard Lawson, Zach Cook, Nathan Ablitt.
LEICESTER: Dan Thompson, Max Perry, Connor Coles R/R, Tom Spencer, Joe Thompson, Vinnie Foord, Mickie Simpson.
MILDENHALL (TBC): Jason Edwards, James Shanes R/R or guest, Josh Warren, Alex Spooner, Jack Kingston R/R or guest, TBC, Luke Muff.
