LEICESTER keep up their bid to top the Championship when they host play-off rivals Somerset on Saturday (7.30pm).
The Watling JCB Lions can go ten points clear of Glasgow with a win from their penultimate fixture, putting pressure on the Tigers to keep winning themselves over the closing weeks of the season.
Whichever team finishes top of the table will gain choice of opponents in the semi-finals, with Somerset and Redcar red-hot favourites to fill the final places, although both of those clubs need a huge run of results to challenge for top place.
Lions also have the incentive of completing a 100 per cent home record in the regular league fixtures. The last time they won all of their league matches at the Paul Chapman & Sons Arena was back in 2012.
The Rebels, however, are likely to pose a strong test as they include one of the strongest top-orders in the Championship and have already won away matches at Birmingham, Newcastle and Scunthorpe.
A 49-41 home win over Sheffield on Wednesday kept the Highbridge side well on target for a play-off place, although they did slip up at home to the Lions at the Oaktree Arena in June.
Since then Somerset have made major changes with Leicester track specialist Nick Morris now included at No.1 along with fellow big-hitters Chris Harris, Rory Schlein and Nico Covatti – although Harris misses Saturday’s fixture due to the Grand Prix Challenge in Croatia, and Steve Worrall steps in to guest.
For the Lions, Kyle Howarth replaces the injured Richie Worrall at No.1, whilst Ty Proctor faces a fitness test on a back injury on Friday.
Manager Stewart Dickson said: “We are one meeting away from having a 100 per cent home record, which was the target at the beginning of the year, but this is going to be another tough match.
“Our win at Birmingham makes things very interesting for finishing top, but only if we keep the back door closed at home.
“If we win on Saturday we have another very big meeting at Scunthorpe next Friday, and I want to put pressure on Glasgow to have to go and get another away win – but the main thing is to get through Saturday first.
“Kyle is in a decent bit of form at the moment so I’m confident he can do the job, and although the change of order worked well at Birmingham I’ve moved Scott (Nicholls) back to No.5 for this match because of Somerset’s strength at the top, and I want Scott in certain races.”
Supporters should note that re-admission tickets from last week’s abandoned double-header can be exchanged for a £3 discount at the ticket office.
LEICESTER: Kyle Howarth, Ellis Perks, Ty Proctor, Ryan Douglas, Scott Nicholls, Joe Lawlor, Connor Mountain.
SOMERSET: Nick Morris, Anders Rowe, Rory Schlein, Nico Covatti, Steve Worrall, Luke Harris, Nathan Stoneman.
*Dates have been confirmed for the Roger Webster Lion Cubs’ two outstanding home fixtures. The Cubs will host Cradley on Tuesday September 3, and the Isle of Wight on Tuesday September 10, both with 7.30pm starts.
