LEICESTER bid to keep up their play-off chase in Monday’s eagerly-awaited clash with Poole at the Paul Chapman and Sons Arena (7.30pm).
The Watling JCB Lions are fifth in the table and trail fourth-placed Belle Vue on race-points difference, although Leicester have two matches in hand.
Third-placed Wolverhampton are also within range, and all three sides race at home on Monday.
Poole, three points behind the Lions, also have their own designs on the top four, and despite a patchy season so far the Pirates still offer a major threat.
Neil Middleditch’s side have picked up points in four of their six away matches, and have narrowly missed out on wins on a number of occasions.
There have been several team changes at Wimborne Road during the season, and the Pirates travel with a solid-looking side packing real strength at reserve.
World U21 Finalist Frederik Jakobsen impressed with paid-nine on his debut against Belle Vue last week, whilst the potential threat of former Lions captain Nicolai Klindt in the No.7 race-jacket needs very little explanation.
It’s the first time the teams have met this season, with the Pirates’ last trip to the East Midlands resulting in a dramatic 45-45 draw last June when the Lions snatched a 5-1 in the final race to level the scores.
The home side are at full-strength and are looking to build on last week’s narrow home win over Wolves when new signing Ricky Wells was in outstanding form.
Boss Simon Stead said: “Ricky was brilliant last week and I’m very much hoping for more of the same on Monday.
“It was a dream debut for him and I do believe when every rider in this Leicester side clicks into top form we will be hard to beat.
“We have to eradicate the inconsistency within the side and once we do that we’ll be a danger.
“I’ve noticed Poole have been picking up some useful points on the road, so hopefully we can hit that consistency and send them home point-less.”
This is the Lions’ only fixture of the week, as the scheduled trip to Swindon on Wednesday (July 11) is off due to England’s football World Cup semi-final taking place on the same evening.
LEICESTER: Kenneth Bjerre, Ricky Wells, Charles Wright, Krystian Pieszczek, Hans Andersen, James Sarjeant, Todd Kurtz.
POOLE: Brady Kurtz, Josh Grajczonek, Kacper Woryna, Richie Worrall, Linus Sundstrom, Frederik Jakobsen, Nicolai Klindt.
