LEICESTER go in search of vital points on the road with an important Southern tour to Plymouth and Poole this week.
The Watling JCB Lions head to the Coliseum on Tuesday (7pm) to take on the Gladiators, and just over 24 hours later they face a return fixture against the Pirates at Wimborne Road.
And having lost at home to Poole on Saturday, Stewart Dickson’s side are keen to improve their away record as the chase for play-off places intensifies.
Plymouth were elevated from National Development League level over the winter and have so far picked up five points from four home matches – and only narrowly lost to Glasgow last week despite No.1 Jason Crump crashing out in his first race.
Crump has again been ruled out of Tuesday’s meeting and is replaced by Richard Lawson as a guest, who forms the Gladiators’ spearhead along with experienced Dane Bjarne Pedersen, with several British speedway newcomers elsewhere in the side.
Poole, meanwhile, show one change from the side which won at the Paul Chapman & Sons Arena, with Drew Kemp guesting for the yet-to-appear Ondrej Smetana, whilst James Wright continues to stand in for the injured Ben Cook.
The Lions have a change of riding order as youngster Dan Thompson has established a hugely impressive average of 6.05 in his debut season, and he moves up into the top five.
Thompson will race in Heat 1 alongside Hans Andersen, with Zaine Kennedy switching to reserve.
Dickson has tinkered with his middle-order across the two nights with Nick Morris racing at No.5 at Plymouth, whilst Ryan Douglas takes that position at Poole.
Andersen has had three spells as a Poole rider earlier in his career so knows every inch of the Wimborne Road circuit, but the Dane will be visiting Plymouth for the first time – and he says it’s vital the Lions bounce back from Saturday’s defeat.
He said: “I’ve never been to Plymouth so it will be a new experience for me, but I’m glad my team-mates have been there so they can pass on their experience of the track – and if we work together as a team, then we win.
“Poole are a strong side as they showed on Saturday but we’re going to go there on Wednesday with an open mind, and we can probably turn them around.
“I did a decent guest booking for them in their first home meeting of the season, so I hope the fans start cheering me - and then boo me towards the end because that means we’ve won!”
PLYMOUTH: Richard Lawson, Dillon Ruml, Zach Cook, Zane Keleher, Bjarne Pedersen, Alfie Bowtell, Jack Smith.
LEICESTER (Tuesday): Hans Andersen, Dan Thompson, Kyle Howarth, Ryan Douglas, Nick Morris, Zaine Kennedy, Joe Thompson.
POOLE: Rory Schlein, Drew Kemp, Steve Worrall, Stefan Nielsen, Danny King, James Wright, Danyon Hume.
LEICESTER (Wednesday): Hans Andersen, Dan Thompson, Nick Morris, Kyle Howarth, Ryan Douglas, Zaine Kennedy, Joe Thompson.
