LEICESTER resume rivalries with Sheffield in what promises to be a high-octane ROWE Motor Oil Premiership clash at the Hydroscand Arena, Beaumont Park on Thursday (7.30pm).
Recent encounters between the Watling JCB Lions and the Tigers have been full of drama and talking points, with the Lions generally having the better of things.
They eliminated their South Yorkshire rivals from both the KO Cup and league play-offs last season before this spring’s Cup clashes saw the Lions win home and away to reach another Final.
The home meeting was notable for the fracas between vice-captain Kyle Howarth and Sheffield skipper Josh Pickering which made national headlines as the two riders had to be separated after a brutal on-track encounter.
In the bigger picture of their season, the Lions are looking to get back on the winning track following last Thursday’s disappointing defeat at Northampton.
They did leave Brafield with the aggregate point but it was a meeting they had targeted for an away win, and the concession of a six-point advantage on the night was a major frustration.
Since that meeting, manager Stewart Dickson has elected to restore Joe Thompson to the Rising Star berth, and he comes in on Thursday although his brother Dan is still sidelined with a broken collarbone, and rider replacement will be in operation.
Sheffield are currently second in the early league table having collected three points from a possible five in their Bank Holiday Monday clashes with Belle Vue.
The Tigers were beaten 50-40 at the National Speedway Stadium at lunchtime before turning the tables to record a 54-36 victory in the return at Owlerton which saw them take the aggregate point.
They are forced into one change at reserve with Luke Killeen currently sidelined with rib damage, so Nathan Ablitt steps in as a guest in the Rising Star position.
Led by the likes of GP star Jack Holder, the spectacular Pickering and the in-form Chris Holder who scored 16 at Belle Vue, they will certainly present a stern test.
Dickson said: “This is a big meeting for us, and arguably even more so after we slipped up last week at Northampton.
“It’s imperative that we cut out the mistakes from that meeting, which were unlike us, because we know what tough opposition Sheffield are going to provide us with.
“They have plenty of reasons to want to come to Leicester and win, and we have to be ready for that.
“When I assessed the availability of potential guests for Dan, I came to the conclusion that rider replacement would be the best option for this meeting, as we are confident in what our own riders can do around our track.
“Obviously with several of them in action on Wednesday we’ll be keeping our fingers crossed that everyone comes through unscathed, and it does promise to be a terrific match against Sheffield.”
Those unable to attend should note that the meeting will not be streamed on Lions TV as it has been selected for live coverage from British Speedway Network – passes available from https://www.britishspeedwaynetwork.co.uk/ .
LEICESTER: Ryan Douglas, Dan Thompson R/R, Nick Morris, Kyle Howarth, Sam Masters, Drew Kemp, Joe Thompson.
SHEFFIELD: Jack Holder, Anders Rowe, Chris Holder, Leon Flint, Josh Pickering, Jye Etheridge, Nathan Ablitt.
