LEICESTER have Knockout Cup Final qualification in their own hands ahead of a huge clash with Sheffield at the Hydroscand Arena, Beaumont Park on Thursday (7.30pm).
The Watling JCB Lions raced to a superb 49-41 victory when the sides met at Owlerton last week, setting things up perfectly for the group decider.
Whichever team wins the meeting on Thursday will top the standings, regardless of the aggregate point.
There is, however, a further slight advantage with the Lions in that a draw will also mean they come out on top as they bid to reach a second successive KO Cup Final and defend the trophy in July.
However, whilst the result last week was a massive boost to Leicester’s hopes, they are also in no doubt that Sheffield have the potential to hit back strongly themselves, and nobody will be believing the job is anywhere near done.
The Tigers bring proven race-winning pedigree to the East Midlands including World No.5 Jack Holder, skipper and fellow Aussie Josh Pickering, and Holder’s elder brother Chris who has started the season in strong form.
The lower order battle could be significant, and this was an area where the Lions prevailed both at home to Belle Vue on Easter Monday and also at Owlerton last week.
Both managers, Stewart Dickson and Simon Stead, have named unchanged line-ups for what promises to be a terrific battle with everything at stake.
Dickson said: “The result last week has given us a real chance of qualifying for the Final, but the words I’ll be ringing in the riders’ ears beforehand are that this isn’t over yet.
“We still have a job to do, and Sheffield will know if they come here and win they make the Final themselves which they will feel they are fully capable of doing.
“It’s very good for the club of course to have a meeting of this importance when in other circumstances it could have been a dead rubber, and it’s become a proper shootout between the two sides.
“If we do our job as a team, just like we did last week, then I’m confident we should win and get through, but we have to be prepared for a tough fight.”
For any supporters who cannot make it to the Hydroscand Arena, the meeting will be livestreamed on Lions TV - available from: https://www.leicesterlionstv.com .
LEICESTER: Ryan Douglas, Dan Thompson, Nick Morris, Kyle Howarth, Sam Masters, Drew Kemp, Joe Thompson.
SHEFFIELD: Jack Holder, Anders Rowe, Chris Holder, Leon Flint, Josh Pickering, Jye Etheridge, Luke Killeen.
