DANNY Ayres is backing Leicester Lions to summon the spirit of the city’s football club and make a shock bid for Premiership honours.
Lions head to Somerset for Friday's Knockout Cup first-leg clash (7.30) on the back of rattling Elite League champions Wolverhampton in a narrow 45-44 defeat at Monmore Green on Monday.
The result might have been so much better had it not been for Danny King’s mechanical gremlins in heat nine and a double fall in the following race.
But after the meeting that saw Ayres bounce back from a blank on home shale against Swindon with four-paid-seven, the 30-year-old reserve made a strong case for Leicester being this season’s surprise package.
Ayres said: “To be honest we should have won it but who would have thought we would run the champions that close?
“The atmosphere among the boys is unreal. I have never been in a team quite like it, they all look out for each other and look after me as well.
“It was like my first day at school when I pulled up there, I don’t have a massive aura about myself but having settled in I think we could go really close.
“If we all carry on as we are, don’t let it get hold of us mentally and get on with what we’re doing I think we can get the club right up to the top.
“I feel comfortable and a lot of people will be very surprised. You only have to look at what Leicester City did and I believe we can take that route.”
Lions embark on their cup quest without both second-string riders against a full-strength Rebels septet.
Sheffield's Lasse Bjerre guests for Erik Riss with rider replacement in operation for Josh Auty. Both miss out due to their respective Championship commitments.
SOMERSET: Rohan Tungate, Paul Starke, Charles Wright, Patrick Hougaard, Josh Grajczonek, Jake Allen, Jan Graversen.
LEICESTER: Kim Nilsson, Josh Auty R/R, Kacper Gomolski, Lasse Bjerre (guest), Danny King, Josh Bates, Danny Ayres.
