PREVIEW: BERWICK v BIRMINGHAM (Cab Direct Champ) / BERWICK v LEICESTER (NDL)

BERWICK stage a double header at Shielfield Park tonight (Saturday, 6.30pm) starting with a vital Cab Direct Championship clash with Birmingham.

Both sides remain hopeful of securing the final play-off place, and the aggregate point is also available after the Brummies won by six points at Perry Barr.

The Bandits operate rider replacement for Hans Andersen (speedway injury in Denmark) and have declared Bastian Borke as a guest for the injured Jonas Knudsen. Birmingham bring in Richard Lawson at No.1 to replace the suspended Nick Morris.

Brummies manager Stewart Dickson said: “We have to dust ourselves down, roll our sleeves up and show how much we want that play-off place.

“Sometimes when you’re in a rut and losing meetings, you can easily stay in that rut – but we need to give it everything to make sure we get out of that.

“I think we have to go to Berwick and get a win but we’re going to need the whole team to perform and we can’t afford to carry any passengers.”

The match is followed by a bottom-versus-top NDL clash as the Bullets host the Leicester Lion Cubs.
The home side return to full strength including recent signing Steve Boxall, with Greg Blair making his return from injury.

Joe Thompson and Tom Spencer are back for the Lion Cubs after long lay-offs but Dan Thompson is out with a dislocated shoulder, with the visitors bringing in Lee Complin as a guest at No.1.

BERWICK: Rory Schlein, Bastian Borke, Jye Etheridge, Hans Andersen r/r, Leon Flint, Steve Boxall, Connor Coles.
BIRMINGHAM: Richard Lawson, Stefan Nielsen, Troy Batchelor, Alfie Bowtell, Justin Sedgmen, Sam Hagon, Paul Starke.

BERWICK: Connor Coles, Greg Blair, Jamie Halder, Danny Phillips, Steve Boxall, Kieran Douglas, Mason Watson.
LEICESTER: Lee Complin, Ashton Boughen, Max Perry, Max James, Joe Thompson, Vinnie Foord, Tom Spencer.