PREVIEW: SHEFFIELD v BELLE VUE (ROWE MOTOR OIL PREM GRAND FINAL)

SHEFFIELD seek to build an advantage over Belle Vue as the Roses rivals clash in the first leg of the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership Grand Final at Owlerton tonight (Monday).

It’s a repeat of the 2022 title decider when the Aces clinched the title in South Yorkshire after a close aggregate contest, but on this occasion the Tigers stage the first leg on their own track.

Sheffield have won all three of their home matches against league leaders Belle Vue this season, although the most recent contest on August Bank Holiday Monday saw them held to a narrow four-point lead.

The Tigers once again bring in Max Fricke at No.1 to guest for the injured Jack Holder, whilst the Aces are without Peter Kildemand after his crash at Plymouth on Saturday.

Kildemand is awaiting a medical update on a wrist injury with a view to Friday’s second leg, but his place tonight is taken by Northampton’s Mitch McDiarmid.

Sheffield manager Simon Stead said: “I really hope to see the place full. Let’s make one of those really special Owlerton atmospheres under the lights – then it’s down to us to go out there and get the job done!

“The beauty of the play-offs is that anything can happen and nothing is guaranteed.

“Yes, some people may make Belle Vue the favourites because they did finish top – but we’re going to be going into this Grand Final giving it absolutely everything.”

Aces boss Mark Lemon said: “We expect a battle. There’s real history in this, there are grudges and rivalry with the War of the Roses so I don’t expect anything to be easy, and I think it’s going to be an epic Grand Final.

“Nothing really changes in terms of preparation, it’s just that there’s more riding on it and there’s been more time to give the Final the attention it requires.

“But we’ve been here before, we know what we need to do and it will be the same processes that we stick to.”

SHEFFIELD: Max Fricke, Anders Rowe, Chris Holder, Leon Flint, Josh Pickering, Jye Etheridge, Luke Killeen.

BELLE VUE: Brady Kurtz, Norick Blodorn, Mitch McDiarmid, Zach Cook, Jason Doyle, Tate Zischke, Will Cairns.

SCB Referee: Wayne Jarvis

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