PREVIEW: LEICESTER v BIRMINGHAM (ROWE MOTOR OIL PREM)

LEICESTER face Midlands rivals Birmingham at the Hydroscand Arena, Beaumont Park tonight (Thursday) on another emotional occasion as the Brummies race for the final time.

The Lions have two matches remaining and a win on their home track and then at Oxford next week could see them move into the top two ahead of the play-offs.

They ran up a massive 58-32 win in the last-ever fixture at Perry Barr on Monday, although the last time Birmingham raced at Leicester in May they pulled off one of the shocks of the season with a 45-44 victory.

The teams are unchanged from Monday with Simon Lambert continuing at reserve for the Brummies as a guest for the injured Ben Barker.

Leicester manager Stewart Dickson said: “It doesn’t really bother me who we are racing before the play-offs, the important thing is that we keep on scoring consistently, pick up more points and keep the confidence up.

“We want to win these last two matches and get to 42 points and see where that leaves us, and then we will face whoever we face in the semi-finals.

“There is a lot to look forward to, and I honestly think we are stronger now than we were this time last year.”

Brummies CEO Nigel Tolley said: “We’ve already been to Leicester and upset them in the league once this season – not many people expected us to go there and do that!

“Leicester have been a lot more dialled in of late, and their form has picked up since we beat them.

“But anything can happen and whilst it will be another sad night, hopefully we can go out on something of a high.”

SCB Referee: Michael Breckon

*LIVE STREAMING: https://www.leicesterlionstv.com/

LEICESTER: Max Fricke, Luke Becker, Ryan Douglas, Kyle Howarth, Sam Masters, Drew Kemp, Joe Thompson.
BIRMINGHAM: Tobiasz Musielak, Jonas Jeppesen, Keynan Rew, Paco Castagna, Matej Zagar, Simon Lambert, Sam Hagon.