PREVIEW: SHEFFIELD v BIRMINGHAM (ROWE MOTOR OIL PREM)

SHEFFIELD will be looking to close the gap at the top of the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership when they host Birmingham tonight (Thursday).

The Tigers have added five league points to their total from their last two outings – and are going for three more against a Brummies side who are without two riders.

The teams drew 45-45 in the West Midlands back in March meaning three points are up for grabs for the meeting winners – and a third straight Sheffield win would see them move to within a point of current leaders Ipswich.

Tigers operate rider replacement for the injured Josh Pickering whilst the Brummies are without Polish duo Piotr Pawlicki and Wiktor Lampart due to their national championship. R/R operates for Pawlicki with Simon Lambert stepping in to guest at reserve.

Sheffield skipper Kyle Howarth said: “Birmingham have got a weaker side coming to us but we can’t take it for granted – the day you do that is the day you’re probably going to get beat surprisingly.

“So we’ve got 15 big races coming up, we want to put on a good show on for the supporters and we want to make sure we come away with another win.

“We’re not easing off against anyone now, we want to keep this momentum going and we’re going for a big win.”

Birmingham boss Sam Ermolenko said: “Of course it’s disappointing to be without our two Polish riders, but there’s nothing we can do about that unfortunately.

“But the rest of the boys will be fired up because they know we’ve got a big decision to make on Friday morning with Freddie (Lindgren) coming into the team so it will be interesting to see how they go.”

SHEFFIELD: Jack Holder, Josh Pickering R/R, Chris Holder, Kyle Howarth, Tai Woffinden, Jason Edwards, Dan Gilkes.
BIRMINGHAM: Piotr Pawlicki R/R, Steve Worrall, Zach Cook, Justin Sedgmen, Tom Brennan, Simon Lambert, Leon Flint.
SCB Referee: Michael Breckon

*LIVE STREAMING: https://watch.britishspeedway.co.uk