LEICESTER continue their bid for the WSRA National Development League title when they visit Sheffield on Thursday (7.30pm).
The Lion Cubs have won all seven of their NDL fixtures so far, and they hold a three-point advantage over Oxford Chargers who they visit on Sunday.
Lion Cubs have 16 points whilst Oxford are on 13, and the Chargers can finish with a maximum total of 19 from their last two matches.
The only other team who can get above Leicester’s current total are Sheffield themselves, who are a joint side with Scunthorpe, and maximum points from their last five matches would give them 20.
However, the Lion Cubs have the aggregate point against the Tiger Cubs virtually in the bag after a thumping 63-27 win when the sides met at the Pidcock Motorcycles Arena, Beaumont Park earlier in the season.
A win for the Lion Cubs at Owlerton would not quite mathematically guarantee the title, but as they currently have a race points advantage of 105 over Oxford, it would then take an unbelievable points swing for the Chargers to overhaul them.
The first job is in South Yorkshire for what may well be a tough encounter as the Tiger Cubs track Championship regulars Nathan Albitt and Luke Harrison, as well as Ace Pijper who is experienced at that level.
The Lion Cubs are without Vinnie Foord who is sidelined with shoulder damage after his crash in the NDL Riders Series at Leicester earlier this month, and they will operate rider replacement in the No.4 position with Luke Crang, Sonny Springer, Max James and Arran Butcher eligible for his rides.
Meanwhile Tom Spencer has been rewarded for his excellent season with the Lion Cubs – where he averages over eight – as he is now picking up Championship guest bookings with Glasgow.
Lion Cubs manager Dave Howard said: “Obviously it’s a very good situation, but we’ve still got to win another away meeting, and that should clinch the league.
“On the points difference that we’ve got between ourselves and Oxford, they’re on plus 24 and we’re on plus 129, so that’s a good position to be in.
“We have three away matches left, so we want to be in a position where we can complete the task and win the NDL.”
SHEFFIELD: Nathan Ablitt, Mickie Simpson, Stene Pijper, Ace Pijper, Luke Harrison, Kean Dicken, Jamie Etherington.
LEICESTER: Joe Thompson, Sonny Springer, Tom Spencer, Vinnie Foord r/r, Luke Crang, Max James, Arran Butcher.
