PREVIEW: LEICESTER v SHEFFIELD (ROWE MOTOR OIL PREM PO SF)

LEICESTER host Shefield in the second leg of their ROWE Motor Oil Premiership play-off semi-final tonight (Thursday) with the away side holding the upper hand from the opener.

The Tigers won 57-33 at Owlerton last week and therefore start as favourites to progress to the Grand Final, where league leaders Belle Vue are waiting.

Leicester did score 58 points at home to Sheffield less than two months ago, but that was on a night when the Tigers were forced into several changes.

On this occasion, former Lions skipper Max Fricke continues as a guest for the visitors in place of the injured Jack Holder, whilst the home side are now without Dan Thompson in addition to long-term absentee Kyle Howarth.

The hosts operate rider replacement for Thompson who has a dislocated shoulder from a training accident, whilst Paco Castagna steps in for the retired Howarth.

Lions manager Stewart Dickson said: “We’ll be giving it our very best go. We know Sheffield will be strong favourites after the first leg, but we certainly won’t be turning up believing it’s all over.

“If we can get off to a good start, I know how rattled opposing teams can get around here. What we need to go is make a good start, go well in the middle and also to finish well!”

Tigers boss Simon Stead said: “We’ve given ourselves a real good fighting chance of qualifying through to this year’s Final.

“I think with our lads riding the way they have been and with Max back in at No.1, particularly at his old stomping ground, I don’t think we could be in much more of a better position.

“We can’t afford to take anything for granted though; it would be crazy to turn up there and think that the job is done.”

LEICESTER: Ryan Douglas, Drew Kemp, Sam Masters, Dan Thompson R/R, Nick Morris, Paco Castagna, Joe Thompson.
SHEFFIELD: Max Fricke, Anders Rowe, Chris Holder, Leon Flint, Josh Pickering, Jye Etheridge, Luke Killeen.

SCB Referee: Seth Perkin

Live Streaming: https://www.britishspeedwaynetwork.co.uk/

Live Updates: https://live.britishspeedway.co.uk/