LEICESTER have the opportunity to officially secure their play-off place when they host Oxford in the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership on Monday (7.30pm).
The in-form Watling JCB Lions have shot up to third in the table after a sensational run which sees them undefeated in eight matches, including away wins last week at Birmingham and previous leaders Ipswich.
Now they face the only team from outside the top four who can still make it in, but a win over the Spires on Monday will cement matters for the Lions.
Stewart Dickson’s side currently have 32 points with four matches remaining, whilst Oxford have 25 with three to go. The Spires can reach a maximum total of 33, so any victory for the Lions on Monday will mean their opponents cannot catch them.
It would also virtually confirm the four play-off qualifiers although mathematically Oxford would still be able to go level on match points with Belle Vue, albeit they have a much inferior race points difference at this stage.
Lions name a full-strength line-up for the meeting with Craig Cook due back in the side at reserve after missing the last five meetings.
Meanwhile the Spires have made a number of changes during the season, although there is only one change in personnel from the last time the teams met in early June.
They released Lewis Kerr and replaced him with former Lions reserve Drew Kemp, before making a further change and handing a Premiership chance to youngster Luke Killeen, who has impressed so far and recorded a best score of 6+2 in their home win over King’s Lynn last Thursday.
Killeen lines up at reserve for the Spires alongside former Lion Cubs racer Ashton Boughen, whilst they are led by captain Chris Harris and Polish Champion Maciej Janowski - but No.1 Rohan Tungate is ruled out after a weekend crash in Poland, with rider replacement in operation.
Dickson said: “The message from me to the riders doesn’t change, we’ve got to keep on doing exactly what we’ve been doing, and ensure we keep performing at the same level.
“We know the rewards that will come from another win, as that would put us out of reach of Oxford and guarantee our top four place.
“We’re also looking for the supporters to help get us over the line. This is a chance for us to create club history, because no Leicester team has ever reached the play-offs in the top league before, and it’s in our own hands to do it.
“We’ve had brilliant support home and away during this winning run, and now we need the two points on Monday, so I’m sure everyone will get right behind us as they have been doing.”
Lions fans are reminded that this fixture will NOT be shown live on television, nor will it be live streamed due to Eurosport’s Monday night coverage from Ipswich, and the best way to cheer the team into the play-offs is from the track! All children will be admitted free as part of the club’s summer promotion.
LEICESTER: Max Fricke, Richard Lawson, Sam Masters, Luke Becker, Ryan Douglas, Craig Cook, Sam Hagon.
OXFORD: Rohan Tungate R/R, Erik Riss, Maciej Janowski, Charles Wright, Chris Harris, Ashton Boughen, Luke Killeen.
