PREVIEW: SHEFFIELD v BELLE VUE (PREM KOC)

SHEFFIELD host Belle Vue in the Owlerton season opener tonight (Thursday) with match and aggregate points at stake in the Premiership KO Cup.

The Roses rivals met in Manchester on Monday with the Aces running out 48-42 winners, and the Tigers will now look to turn the tables on their home circuit, with both sides also facing holders Leicester later this month.

There is one change to the line-ups with Belle Vue’s Norick Blodorn ruled out after his first-race crash, and new Northampton signing Kye Thomson comes in to guest for the visitors.

Sheffield skipper Josh Pickering said: “Whilst a few of us weren’t happy with what we got score-wise on Monday, as a team we left ourselves in a good position.

“It’s not going to be easy at all, but previous history between the two sides at Owlerton would suggest we’ve put ourselves in the driving seat.”

Belle Vue star Dan Bewley said: “I thought Monday was a good showing throughout the team. Obviously Will (Cairns) had a tough night with mechanical issues, but I’m sure he’ll get better from it, and Norick went out pretty early.

“Brady (Kurtz) was under the weather but he soldiered on, and I think it was a good effort from the team.

“It’s nice to be back and to have won our first meeting in the Knockout Cup, and hopefully we will get through.”

SHEFFIELD: Jack Holder, Anders Rowe, Chris Holder, Leon Flint, Josh Pickering, Jye Etheridge, Luke Killeen.

BELLE VUE: Brady Kurtz, Kye Thomson, Peter Kildemand, Zach Cook, Dan Bewley, Tate Zischke, William Cairns.

SCB Referee: Gary Allen