SWEDISH star Kim Nilsson could afford a wry smile after helping Leicester to Premiership survival.
Nilsson, who raced in 22 of the Watling JCB Lions' league fixtures despite a broken arm in July, sparkled once again in the 49-41 win over Sheffield at Beaumont Park.
He notched 10+1 from the No.1 slot and said: "I know we had a good lead from last week at Sheffield but we weren't smiling or celebrating.
"We know what can happen in sport and thankfully we were able to get the job done so we could then smile!
"It's nice for us to win these meetings but then again it wasn't nice to finish bottom of the league so we had to race for survival.
"We are obviously very pleased to get two wins against Sheffield but they made us work hard tonight."
Sheffield deserve immense credit for the part they played in an entertaining night of racing at Beaumont Park.
When home duo Michael Palm Toft and Erik Riss shot from the start in Heat 3 it looked as though a repeat of Owlerton a week earlier was on the cards with Leicester 12-6 up.
But Sheffield were licking their wounds and both Lasse Bjerre - who spent a large part of the season in Leicester colours - returned to a track he knows well with a fine win after that, as did star guest Nick Morris.
And when Bjerre and reserve Jan Graversen teamed up for a Heat 9 Tigers were only four adrift.
Morris was in stunning form for Sheffield and helped them to a 4-2 in Heat 13 after a terrific battle with King who ended the race on the deck - but thankfully walked away.
Palm Toft was a worthy winner of the last heat to complete a tremendous return for the Leicester guest rider.
LEICESTER 49: Michael Palm Toft 14, Erik Riss 11+1, Kim Nilsson 10+1, Cameron Heeps 6+2, James Sarjeant 4+1, Danny King 4, Pawel Przedpelski r/r.
SHEFFIELD 41: Nick Morris 12+1, Lasse Bjerre 11, Georgie Wood 6+1, Todd Kurtz 5+1, Jan Graversen 4+1, Ty Proctor 3, Josh Bates r/r.
Leicester win 107-73 on aggregate.
