PREVIEW: LEICESTER v BERWICK (NDL)

LEICESTER and Berwick meet at the Paul Chapman & Sons Arena tonight (Saturday) with the winners set to top the National Development League table.

The Lion Cubs boast a 100 per cent home record and have already knocked the Bullets out of the KO Cup, and whichever team goes top will face Oxford in the play-off semi-finals, with defending champions Mildenhall the other qualifiers.

Cubs boss Dave Howard said: “The whole team is in a positive place as we commence the big October that we have, as we give everything to push as hard as possible for success in the league and KO Cup, in what will be tough challenges.

“All of the other teams are challenging big-style and want to win the silverware. They have strengthened with signings, and/or had riders progress greatly this season.

“That challenge begins against the strong Berwick Bullets, who have also already secured their league play-off spot and have strength at the top end and a great first-season youngster in Ace Pijper.”

Bullets manager Gary Flint said: “We will make a late check on Ace to make sure that he has fully recovered from his big crash at Mildenhall last time out. He was cleared by a CT scan that weekend and has completed his compulsory time out under the concussion protocol.

“I would say that he is 99 per cent certain to race on Saturday but we would never take any unnecessary risks and are prepared to use rider-replacement for him if needed.”

LEICESTER: Dan Thompson, Max Perry, Connor Coles, Tom Spencer, Joe Thompson, Vinnie Foord, Mickie Simpson.
BERWICK: Kyle Bickley, Ace Pijper, Ben Rathbone, Luke Crang, Greg Blair, Kieran Douglas, Mason Watson.