PREVIEW: IPSWICH v KING’S LYNN (ROWE MOTOR OIL PREM)
IPSWICH and King’s Lynn clash in the final East Anglian derby of the season at Foxhall tonight (Thursday) with memories still fresh of their previous meeting.
Last time the Stars visited Suffolk in July they pulled off a stunning aggregate triumph in the KO Cup semi-final to end the Witches’ hopes in that competition.
But in the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership Ipswich remain top and are aiming to stay there ahead of the play-offs.
The hosts are without Adam Ellis, who suffered a knee injury in Sweden on Tuesday and is set for an MRI scan, with rider replacement in operation at No.2.
Witches boss Ritchie Hawkins said: “We need to perform a lot better than when we last faced King’s Lynn at home, we owe it to the fans to perform better.
“We want to take three points for our league position, but also for local pride and to make sure we restore than pecking order in the league again.
“I told the boys I was going to run with this riding order for the week, and we will see how it goes. It is all about preparation for the play-offs, it is not necessarily all about now and the boys are all on board and they know the reasons we are doing it. No doubt it will change again.”
Stars manager Rob Lyon said: “We know it will be tough because they are back to full strength as well, and they’re going quite well at the moment, as we are.
“I’m sure it will be a great match, and we will be giving it 100 per cent. I’ve always said if a team gives 100 per cent we can’t ask for any more than that, and if that’s good enough to get us over the line then so be it.
“It would be nice for the fans obviously if we could do the double. The local rivalry is good and healthy for all the fans and everyone involved in the sport, so let’s see what happens!”
IPSWICH: Jason Doyle, Adam Ellis R/R, Emil Sayfutdinov, Danny King, Tom Brennan, Dan Thompson, Jason Edwards.
KING’S LYNN: Jan Kvech, Niels-Kristian Iversen, Chris Harris, Richard Lawson, Nicolai Klindt, Ben Cook, Luke Harrison.
SCB Referee: Chris Durno
