PREVIEW: IPSWICH v LEICESTER (PREM KO CUP)
IPSWICH will again be without three of their top four riders for their home KO Cup quarter-final second leg against Leicester at Foxhall tonight (Thursday).
The Witches take a six-point lead into the meeting but there has been no improvement to their injury situation with Jason Doyle, Danny King and Adam Ellis still ruled out.
Scott Nicholls and Troy Batchelor come in to guest against the Lions, with rider replacement in operation for Doyle, whilst the visitors have Craig Cook making his first appearance since rejoining the club this week.
Witches boss Ritchie Hawkins said: “Leicester are a good side and have a lot of good riders, and I think it would be a tough test even with our full side out.
“We saw two years ago what Batch can do when he clicks in, and we all know how good Scotty can be, so we are more than capable of covering the injuries if we all perform.
“We need to stick to together and for everyone to rally round each other as we still have a good chance of progressing.”
Leicester manager Stewart Dickson said: “If my boys can put in somewhere near the performance they put in on Monday against Oxford, we do have a chance at Ipswich – and I don’t just mean to win on the night, I mean to get those six points back.
“Ritchie and Chris (Louis) are clever guys and they have brought in the best replacements they can, but you’ve got to say that Jason Doyle is almost irreplaceable around there, certainly whenever I’ve seen him.
“It should be a good meeting, and after we had a good night on Monday I’m looking forward to it. I think it will be very interesting.”
IPSWICH: Emil Sayfutdinov, Dan Thompson, Scott Nicholls, Troy Batchelor, Jason Doyle r/r, Keynan Rew, Jordan Jenkins.
LEICESTER: Max Fricke, Richard Lawson, Sam Masters, Ryan Douglas, Luke Becker, Craig Cook, Sam Hagon.
SCB Referee: Barbara Horley
