LEICESTER look to build on a good week of home results when they head to Ipswich in more ROWE Motor Oil Premiership action on Thursday (7.30pm).
The Watling JCB Lions raced to a 55-35 win over a depleted Witches side at the Hydroscand Arena, Beaumont Park on Monday, running up a 20-point victory despite having to manage their own injury problems.
No.1 Ryan Douglas returns for the trip to Foxhall having missed the home fixture following a heavy crash in Poland, whilst rider replacement is in operation again for Kyle Howarth who is still sidelined with an ankle injury.
The Lions should certainly be confident of defending the aggregate point but they will travel optimistic of achieving more than that, with a largely solid record at the Suffolk venue in recent years.
The Witches still have to contend with the absences of the injured Danny King and also Richard Lawson, who missed Monday’s fixture due to illness meaning he is ruled out for a mandatory seven days.
They do have a facility for Lawson, and will switch rider replacement to him meaning No.1 Tom Brennan can take an extra ride; but options to cover King are limited by the fact that all six Premiership clubs are in action on Thursday.
They have plumped for Scunthorpe’s Danish rider Michael Palm Toft, who has plenty of top-flight experience and he comes into the home side’s middle order alongside Scott Nicholls.
For the Lions it’s a return to Foxhall for Dan Thompson who was part of Ipswich’s title-winning team last season, whilst Drew Kemp and Joe Thompson have also had previous spells with the Witches.
Manager Stewart Dickson said: “Without being disrespectful to Ipswich, I’d like to think we’ve got a point in our pocket at least as we head down there after Monday’s result.
“But we are going there looking for more, and if there is an opportunity to get more than we have to take it.
“Dougy was touch and go for Monday but he went on the side of caution which was the right thing to do and we were able to bring in a good guest, and now it’s good to have him back.
“We always felt Kyle would be a little longer, but we’ll touch base with him over the coming days and hopefully he’ll be able to return next week.”
Lions fans not making the trip to Suffolk can still keep in touch with all the action from Foxhall via the live stream, available from: https://witchestv.co.uk/
IPSWICH: Tom Brennan, Richard Lawson R/R, Michael Palm Toft, Scott Nicholls, Tobiasz Musielak, Kevin Juhl Pedersen, Jason Edwards.
LEICESTER: Ryan Douglas, Kyle Howarth R/R, Nick Morris, Dan Thompson, Sam Masters, Drew Kemp, Joe Thompson.
