LEICESTER go for glory at Glasgow on Tuesday in the second leg of the Championship Grand Final.
The Watling JCB Lions head to Ashfield with the tie poised on a knife-edge after a 51-39 win over the Tigers in last Saturday’s first leg.
That means 40 points on the night will make Stewart Dickson’s side league champions at the end of a memorable campaign, and complete a league and Shield double in the process.
And the good news for the Lions is that they have reached at least that 40-point mark in all but one of their matches throughout the season.
The only exception was the first leg KO Cup tie at Eastbourne in late June when they lost 33-57 – but on that afternoon they were totally depleted by injuries, and with no adequate replacements available.
On this occasion there is just one change to their declared septet, with Steve Worrall standing in for injured brother Richie on a track where he has enjoyed success in the past.
Lions were beaten 48-41 at Ashfield in their league visit in July – and a repeat of that result would be enough to secure the title.
But Glasgow are primed to re-load after the first leg, with the decider on their own circuit and fired up by the Heat 15 5-1 from Rasmus Jensen and Claus Vissing which narrowed the gap from 16-points.
The Danish duo, along with the Lions’ Ellis Perks, are looking to complete a Premiership/Championship title double after already striking gold with Swindon in the top flight – and Jensen has scored maximums in his last two meetings.
With no tactical substitutes available, Lions know they need to prevent a fast start for the Tigers, and hopefully avoid a nervous finale when the home side start pairing their big guns which also include No.1 Craig Cook.
Dickson said: “With a 12-point lead it’s still very much in the melting pot, and although the last-race 5-1 took the shine off a bit on Saturday, we also know Glasgow had a couple of problems on the night.
“Obviously we very much hope the same misfortune doesn’t arrive at our door on Tuesday.
“We just need to go up there and battle as hard as we can for every point, just as both teams did on Saturday.
“Glasgow are a top team, and I would have taken 12 points to go up there with before the first leg.”
GLASGOW: Craig Cook, Mikkel B Andersen, Claus Vissing, Sam Jensen, Rasmus Jensen, Connor Bailey, Kyle Bickley.
LEICESTER: Scott Nicholls, Ty Proctor, Steve Worrall, Ellis Perks, Ryan Douglas, Connor Mountain, Joe Lawlor.
