NEW signing Zaine Kennedy will make his Leicester debut when the Watling JCB Lions travel to Eastbourne on Sunday (3pm).
Kennedy arrived in the country earlier in the week and is set to acclimatise with a practice session at the Paul Chapman & Sons Arena prior to the trip to Arlington.
The Australian slots into the No.2 berth although he is set to move to reserve later this month given the points already recorded by Dan Thompson which will see him move up once he has completed four home and four away matches.
Lions also welcome back title-winning skipper Scott Nicholls, who makes a guest appearance at Eastbourne as recent arrival Hans Andersen is unavailable.
Andersen’s Polish League commitment with Daugavpils against Rzeszow takes priority with the Lions’ match being a re-arrangement - but Nicholls has been in vintage form this season and clocked up 12-points in an early-season visit to Arlington with his current club Kent.
The home side are in mid-table having been run close at home on several occasions already, although they were boosted by a big win at Redcar earlier in the month.
The Eagles are, however, without key reserve Drew Kemp who is also committed in Poland, and have promoted youngster Nathan Ablitt from their National Development League side to cover.
Manager Stewart Dickson said: “It’s going to be tough there, but I’d like to think there is an opportunity for us.
“Obviously at the very least we want to be coming away with a point, and hopefully more than that.
“It’s good to have Zaine here and he’ll be having a practice before we go to Eastbourne, and as we knew Hans would be unavailable on this date I booked Scott immediately and it will be good to see him in our colours again.”
The match is immediately followed by the National Development League clash between the clubs, with the Seagulls looking a very different septet to that which appeared at Leicester earlier in the season.
Danno Verge and Joe Alcock are recent additions to the side, whilst 15-year-old Vinnie Joe Ford makes his debut as cover for the unavailable Richard Andrews.
The Roger Webster Lion Cubs are at full strength with Joe Lawlor due back after a ten-day self-isolation following a positive Covid test.
Supporters are reminded there is no meeting at the Paul Chapman & Sons Arena this weekend, but Kennedy will make his home debut in a blockbuster clash with Poole next Saturday (July 24).
Meanwhile Dan Thompson made his first appearance at Premiership level with a guest booking for Sheffield on Thursday, scoring 2+2 in a 46-44 win over King’s Lynn including a vital third place over Stars skipper Lewis Kerr in Heat 7.
Thompson, brother Joe and fellow Cubs rider Tom Spencer all compete in Friday’s British Under-21 Final at Redcar, and all at the club wish them every success.
EASTBOURNE: Richard Lawson, Kyle Newman, Edward Kennett, Tom Brennan, Lewis Kerr, Jason Edwards, Nathan Ablitt.
LEICESTER: Scott Nicholls, Zaine Kennedy, Kyle Howarth, Ryan Douglas, Nick Morris, Dan Thompson, Joe Thompson.
EASTBOURNE SEAGULLS: Jake Knight, Vinnie Joe Ford, Connor King, Joe Alcock, Danno Verge, Nick Laurence, Nathan Ablitt.
LEICESTER LION CUBS: Dan Thompson, Ben Trigger, Joe Lawlor, Tom Spencer, Joe Thompson, Kai Ward, Mickie Simpson.
