LEICESTER host a massive clash with Championship title rivals Glasgow at the Paul Chapman & Sons Arena on Saturday (6.30pm).
The meeting starts one hour earlier than usual as it is to be followed by a National League local derby between the Roger Webster Lion Cubs and Cradley.
Both Leicester teams currently sit top of their respective tables, and the Watling JCB Lions need to defeat the Tigers to retain a realistic chance of being ahead going into the play-offs – where the leaders receive choice of semi-final opponents, with Somerset and in-form Redcar the other two best-placed sides at present.
Lions boast a 100 per cent home record but Glasgow have been hugely impressive on the road, winning five out of six and only missing out at Newcastle where they still claimed a point.
And when the sides met at Ashfield last month the Tigers won 48-41, sending the Lions home point-less in a controversial Heat 15 where the visitors felt guest Chris Harris had done enough to snatch third place on the line.
With Richie Worrall still on the sidelines, Leicester bring in Rory Schlein to guest at No.1 in an otherwise unchanged line-up from last week’s comfortable home win over Scunthorpe.
Meanwhile Glasgow, whose home match with Sheffield on Friday was rained-off, hand a debut to new signing Sam Jensen and also include another recent arrival, Mikkel B Andersen.
Tigers skipper Craig Cook, the outstanding rider in the league, was set to miss the meeting due to suspension after a fracas prior to their Championship Shield exit at Eastbourne earlier this month.
But whilst his team-mate Claus Vissing’s appeal was thrown out – the Dane is replaced by guest Michael Palm Toft – Cook’s has been accepted after he submitted new information, and he is therefore free to ride pending a full SCB hearing at a later date.
Lions manager Stewart Dickson said: “It’s going to be a big occasion – obviously it’s against my old team, but the bottom line is we need to beat them. They beat us up there and we need to return the compliment.
“It’s going to be tough because we know they’ve got good riders, and it’s definitely two of the best teams in the league at the moment - I’d put Redcar in that bracket as well on current form - but we’re pretty good at home and hopefully we’ll deliver again.
“I’m sure it will be a cracker of a meeting and we need the supporters to get right behind us. I’m sure they’ll all be out in force.”
LEICESTER: Rory Schlein, Ellis Perks, Ty Proctor, Ryan Douglas, Scott Nicholls, Joe Lawlor, Connor Mountain.
GLASGOW: Craig Cook, Mikkel B Andersen, Michael Palm Toft, Sam Jensen, Rasmus Jensen, Kyle Bickley, Connor Bailey.
*Meanwhile the Roger Webster Lion Cubs are three points clear at the top of the National League ahead of the visit of play-off chasing Cradley.
Dave Howard’s side are also looking to secure the leadership ahead of the end-of-season showdown, with Kent their most likely rivals for that position.
Cradley sit just outside the top four and are in urgent need of away wins to move back in, having slipped up twice at Monmore this season – including when the Lion Cubs secured a brilliant 51-39 away win in mid-June.
But the Heathens are not to be under-estimated, led by former Lions rider Max Clegg and with two other riders in Jack Smith and Danny Halsey who could also be No.1s at this level – whilst Luke Harris rode at the Paul Chapman & Sons Arena for Coventry throughout last season when they were track-sharing.
The Lion Cubs are still without injured duo Luke Ruddick and Joe Thompson, but the latter’s compulsory period of absence will expire in time for him to race in their next match at the Isle of Wight on August 29.
Rider-replacement is in operation for Ruddick whilst Lions regular Joe Lawlor steps in for the NL team – as he did in the fixture at Monmore, where he scored double-figures. The Cubs also take the precaution of naming Josh Embleton at No.8.
Meanwhile skipper Danyon Hume faces a massive mechanical re-build after suffering the misfortune of blowing two engines when warming up for a planned appearance in Thursday’s Handicap event at the Isle of Wight – a meeting won by Lawlor ahead of Ryan Terry-Daley and Connor Mountian.
Cubs boss Howard said: “It will be another tough meeting, but there’s no doubt we have the strength in depth to extend our lead at the top of the table and send Cradley home empty-handed.”
LEICESTER: Danyon Hume, Luke Ruddick R/R, Joe Lawlor, Dan Thompson, Ellis Perks, Ryan MacDonald, Ryan Terry-Daley, Josh Embleton (no.8).
CRADLEY: Max Clegg, Luke Harris, Tom Spencer, Danny Halsey, Jack Smith, Sheldon Davies, Harry McGurk.
Admission prices are £20 for adults and £16 concessions – but supporters are reminded that ticket-holders from the recent Sheffield/Stoke double-header, in which the second match was postponed, are entitled to a £4 discount on those prices on production of that ticket.
