ATKINS MISSING AT LEICESTER

OXFORD have suffered a blow ahead of the re-arranged first leg of the NDL Grand Final against Leicester with heat-leader Henry Atkins unavailable.

The Chargers racer will be absent at Beaumont Park due to family commitments, and he is to be replaced by unattached three-pointer Kai Ward.

Team boss Peter Schroeck said: “It’s a blow to be without Henry who is devastated to miss out, but our mentality doesn’t change even in his absence and we’ve talked to Kai who is up for the challenge.

“Track conditions are unlikely to be normal at Leicester which we must use to our advantage. We’re in the thick of autumn now, and whichever team wants it most will be the ones to triumph – I truly believe that.”