PREVIEW: OXFORD v SHEFFIELD (ROWE MOTOR OIL PREM)

SHEFFIELD have been hit by the loss of both of their Grand Prix stars for their ROWE Motor Oil Premiership trip to Oxford tonight (Monday).

Tai Woffinden and Jack Holder both crashed out in Gorzow on Saturday with Woffinden suffering concussion and a broken elbow, which has since been operated upon.

Meanwhile Holder also misses the trip to Cowley as he is still feeling the effects of his fall in the semi-final.

The Tigers will operate rider replacement for Holder whilst Lewis Kerr comes in to guest at No.2 – against the side who released him at the end of last week.

Kerr’s place for the Spires has been taken by Drew Kemp, and those two riders are set to meet in Heat 1 of the televised clash.

Sheffield boss Simon Stead said: “With six of the seven Premiership teams in action tonight, and only Birmingham not racing, our options were extremely limited.

“So we’ve had to shuffle our riding order around a little bit and in Lewi, having ridden for Sheffield previously, we all know what he is capable of on his day and he’ll have the bit between his teeth I’m sure.

“We just go there as a team and give it our best shot but we’re obviously going to need contributions from all departments.”

Oxford manager Peter Schoeck said: “We’ve got to be alert and get stuck in against Sheffield. They were here in March, so they’ve been here now and they know our track. It was a tough meeting against them last time and it will even tougher this time.

“But, in the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership, every meeting is tough. You could look at the glass half empty and say every meeting can be lost. But in the same way, every meeting can be won.

“It’s just a case of getting stuck in, doing your best and seeing where that takes you. We will be up for it and looking to start an important week in style.”

OXFORD: Rohan Tungate, Drew Kemp, Maciej Janowski, Charles Wright, Chris Harris, Erik Riss, Ashton Boughen.
SHEFFIELD: Jack Holder R/R, Lewis Kerr, Josh Pickering, Kyle Howarth, Chris Holder, Jason Edwards, Dan Gilkes.
SCB Referee: Wayne Jarvis