PREVIEW: POOLE v LEICESTER (KOC SF)

LEICESTER head to Poole with a narrow two-point lead as the two sides resolve their KO Cup semi-final at Wimborne Road tonight (Wednesday).

The Pirates fought back strongly in the closing stages of last Saturday’s first leg to restrict the Lions to a 46-44 margin, although the East Midlands side did win in Dorset earlier in the season.

Both teams are at full strength with Leicester switching the riding order of their second-strings as Dan Thompson and Connor Mountain exchange places.

Poole co-promoter Danny Ford said: “A two-point deficit is of course far from insurmountable and although Leicester have already won at our place this season and we have yet to beat them, I feel that our lads will raise their game for this one.

“Whichever way you look at it, we are in for a thriller of a meeting and I hope that our superb fans will turn out in good numbers and get behind us, just to add that extra piece of inspiration for us to get over the line.”

Lions boss Stewart Dickson said: “It’s certainly not impossible, I certainly haven’t given up the tie and I know the riders haven’t either so we’ll see what Wednesday brings.

“We did have the luxury of Dan Thompson at reserve when we won down there in the league, and no two meetings are ever going to be the same.

“But we have won there, and we are certainly capable if all seven riders ride well, which unfortunately wasn’t the case on Saturday. We need all seven firing at Wimborne Road if we’re to have a chance.”

POOLE: Danny King, Ben Cook, Steve Worrall, Drew Kemp, Richard Lawson, Zach Cook, Nathan Ablitt.
LEICESTER: Nick Morris, Connor Mountain, Richie Worrall, Dan Thompson, Kyle Howarth, Joe Thompson, Max Clegg.