PREVIEW: SHEFFIELD v IPSWICH (Prem)

SHEFFIELD host Ipswich at Owlerton tonight (Monday) in a meeting which will decide the Premiership leadership from the regular campaign.

Both sides are on 43 points although both saw their title hopes ended by eventual champions Belle Vue in the play-offs.

Sheffield, who also plan to name their first signing for 2023, are without Tobiasz Musielak due to a family emergency and Kyle Howarth who is unwell.

The Tigers bring in Sam Masters to guest and also operate rider replacement, whilst Erik Riss returns to the team for Ipswich.

Co-owner Damien Bates said: ““We’ve already started looking at 2023; we were semi-finalists in 2021, runners-up in 2022 so we’re already doing what we can to make sure we’re as best placed possible to go that next step and win the league next year.

“We’ve already got our first rider sorted and we’ll make the announcement after Heat 15 so that the loyal Sheffield supporters who have stuck with us through thick and thin are the first people to hear the news.”

Witches boss Ritchie Hawkins said: “The fixtures need to be completed and the boys want a pay day before the winter.

“As a team we have got to approach it knowing the season didn’t finish well in the play-offs, so if we can finish the league campaign off with a win, finish top and then go on and win the Pairs competition then we can finish the season on a happier note.”

SHEFFIELD: Jack Holder, Lewis Kerr, Adam Ellis, Kyle Howarth R/R, Sam Masters, Justin Sedgmen, Connor Mountain.
IPSWICH: Jason Doyle, Aaron Summers, Danny King, Erik Riss, Troy Batchelor, Paul Starke, Anders Rowe.