PREVIEW: BELLE VUE v IPSWICH (Sports Insure Prem P/O SF)

BELLE Vue captain Brady Kurtz insists his side will be fired up for a big win against Ipswich in tonight’s (Monday) decisive play-off semi-final second leg in Manchester.

The defending Sports Insure Premiership champions face Ipswich who travel with an 18-point lead after a superb performance to win 54-36 at Foxhall last week.

But ironically the Witches’ first visit to the National Speedway Stadium this year saw them on the end of a 55-35 defeat, whilst their second appearance was closer at 49-41.

Belle Vue continue to operate rider replacement for the injured Charles Wright, whilst the visitors expect to welcome back Jason Doyle, and Jack Smith continues as a guest in the Rising Star berth.

Kurtz said: “We didn’t get stuck in as much as we should’ve done on Thursday and they got the better of us, but it’s only half-time and there’s no reason to suggest we can’t repay the compliment.

“We know how good we are at home; we know how passionate our supporters are and we firmly believe that we can still get this done and make the Grand Final.

“We’ve not given up, far from it. We want to retain our title, we know we’re capable of retaining our title and, hopefully, we can show everybody we mean business in these play-offs.”

Ipswich boss Ritchie Hawkins said: “We need to attack from the off, I think it is going to be a very tough meeting.

“Belle Vue are going to be determined, they do not want to lose their title in the semi-final this year. They are very good around there, so we know we need to attack them, and we will need to fight for every point.”

BELLE VUE: Brady Kurtz, Tom Brennan, Jaimon Lidsey, Charles Wright r/r, Dan Bewley, Norick Blodorn, Connor Bailey, Freddy Hodder (no.8).
IPSWICH: Emil Sayfutdinov, Erik Riss, Danny King, Danyon Hume, Jason Doyle, Keynan Rew, Jack Smith.