PREVIEW: SHEFFIELD v IPSWICH (ROWE MOTOR OIL PREM)

DEFENDING champions Sheffield host league leaders Ipswich in a mouthwatering repeat of last season’s Grand Final at Owlerton tonight (Monday).

The meeting is live on Eurosport 2 and discovery+, and also features the current top two in the World Championship standings after Jason Doyle’s superb victory in Warsaw on Saturday.

Doyle returns to ROWE Motor Oil Premiership action for the Witches and will face the Tigers’ Jack Holder, who won in Croatia and is six points behind his fellow countryman in the series.

Ipswich, who were victims of a major turnaround in the second leg of the 2023 title decider, are still without captain Danny King, with Ryan Douglas stepping in to guest.

Meanwhile the home side bring in Luke Killeen to guest for Jason Edwards, who is struggling after a crash at Berwick on Saturday.

Sheffield captain Kyle Howarth said: “Like ourselves, Ipswich have built another strong, similar looking side with a very strong top end, and it’s going to be another great meeting.

“After a real battle the past couple of home meetings, it would be nice if we could lay down a bit of a marker with an even bigger win – but as long as we get the two league points, I guess it doesn’t matter what the final score is.

“The atmosphere on Thursday (against Belle Vue) was electric; the fans got going, they were all cheering and chanting towards the end and there’s no doubt about it, that made a big difference – hopefully we’ll get more of the same on Monday.”

Ipswich boss Ritchie Hawkins said: “I’m not entirely sure why we haven’t won at Sheffield for so long (since 2014), it is very different to the Ipswich track but the amount we ride on different circuits these days, home advantage isn’t quite as prevalent as it used to be.

“It is nice to know that I featured in our last win there and it would be great to be the team manager for our next one!

“We will keep working hard at it and see if we can put together 15 solid heats and push them close or try and nick a victory.”

SHEFFIELD: Jack Holder, Kyle Howarth, Chris Holder, Josh Pickering, Tai Woffinden, Luke Killeen, Dan Gilkes.
IPSWICH: Emil Sayfutdinov, Dan Thompson, Adam Ellis, Ryan Douglas, Jason Doyle, Keynan Rew, Jordan Jenkins.
SCB Referee: Mick Bates