PREVIEW: SHEFFIELD v BELLE VUE (PREM KO CUP)

SHEFFIELD and Belle Vue are separated by just eight points ahead of the second leg of their KO Cup quarter final at Owlerton tonight (Thursday).

The Aces won the initial encounter 49-41 to leave matters fascinatingly poised leading into the return fixture.

Both sides are at full strength for the latest War of the Roses encounter, although the Tigers have a change in the managerial hotseat, where Garry May steps in to replace regular boss Simon Stead who had already booked a trip abroad prior to tonight’s re-staging being agreed.

Sheffield star Tai Woffinden said: “You already know we’ll give it to them the best we can and we’d feel confident of turning anything around at home.

“The boys are going well. We’ve just got to keep chipping away.

“Obviously for the club we’d like to achieve as much as possible but for us as speedway riders, it’s also a chance to earn ourselves some extra meetings.”

Aces CEO Mark Lemon said: “While we take a decent lead to Owlerton, we potentially didn’t capitalise enough in the home leg because we could’ve made it a much bigger lead than we have.

“But regardless, it was always going to be a difficult night. Both teams have the bit between their teeth and each have been showing some tremendous potential.

“We, of course, go into Thursday off the back of a very impressive performance against Birmingham and, truthfully, we’re feeling good about our chances.

“It’s been far too long – 2017 in fact – since we enjoyed success in the Knockout Cup and we are fully committed to finishing what we’ve started at Owlerton.”

SHEFFIELD: Jack Holder, Kyle Howarth, Chris Holder, Josh Pickering, Tai Woffinden, Jason Edwards, Dan Gilkes.
BELLE VUE: Brady Kurtz, Norick Blodorn, Jaimon Lidsey, Ben Cook, Dan Bewley, Connor Mountain, Connor Bailey.