LEICESTER’S first home ROWE Motor Oil Premiership match in over three weeks is a crunch clash with Oxford on Bank Holiday Monday (7.30pm).
The sides meet at the Pidcock Motorcycles Arena, Beaumont Park with the Watling JCB Lions currently fifth in the league table with one match in hand on the Spires, who are two points better off.
A win will take the Lions back into the play-off places, and that outcome is essential with the Lions having already slipped up twice on their own circuit this season.
Thursday’s defeat at Sheffield was a disappointment given the depleted nature of the Tigers team, but Monday offers the opportunity for a quick bounce-back against an attractive visiting team.
Oxford have had a number of close home meetings in their first season back in the Premiership, including a dramatic 46-44 win over Belle Vue on Thursday, as well as an away win at Birmingham.
The Spires are led by Australian Champion Rohan Tungate and former Lions skipper Chris Harris, whilst there are a host of Leicester connections elsewhere in the line-up.
Erik Riss, Charles Wright and Craig Cook have all had spells with the Lions in the past, and Cook’s presence at reserve could be a key factor – whilst Rising Star Ashton Boughen spent last season with the Lion Cubs.
Leicester revert to their established riding order with Ryan Douglas back at No.5, and Sam Hagon makes his home debut after an encouraging opening display at Sheffield.
Manager Stewart Dickson said: “I did change things around a bit at Sheffield and it didn’t work too badly, but we should be strong at home as we are, and this meeting is all about getting a performance from the whole team.
“The bottom line is that at the moment we aren’t getting all seven riders firing at the same time, and that is costing us.
“We can’t be losing any more meetings at home, regardless of who it’s against, and obviously Craig Cook could be a dangerman on Monday night, we have to be aware what he can do.
“But this is all about us and what we need to do. If we ride to our capabilities it’s a meeting we should be winning.”
The meeting will also feature the official opening of the Lions’ new mini track, with the ceremony to feature four-year-old Cruz Harris, son of Oxford captain Chris.
This will take place from around 7.20pm prior to the parade for the main meeting.
LEICESTER: Max Fricke, Richard Lawson, Sam Masters, Luke Becker, Ryan Douglas, Drew Kemp, Sam Hagon.
OXFORD: Rohan Tungate, Erik Riss, Charles Wright, Maciej Janowski, Chris Harris, Craig Cook, Ashton Boughen.
