LEICESTER kick off an ultra-tough run of away matches when they make the trip to Belle Vue in the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership on Monday.
The Watling JCB Lions have won their last three matches to establish themselves in the top four of the league table, with Thursday’s home victory over King’s Lynn a big boost to their play-off hopes.
Now they go into three fixtures on the road in the space of eight days, all against the sides ahead of them in the standings.
The visit to Manchester is to be followed by the trip to leaders Ipswich on Thursday and then Sheffield on Bank Holiday Monday.
Lions edged out the Aces when they met at the Hydroscand Arena, Beaumont Park in April thanks to a sensational Heat 15 effort from Max Fricke and Luke Becker to get the better of Brady Kurtz.
However, the defending champions have been typically strong around their home track for much of the campaign, and they also recorded a dominant 52-38 win at Oxford last time out on Thursday.
Lions are unchanged from the win over King’s Lynn with Joe Thompson now a confirmed member of the side as an injury replacement for Dan Gilkes, having appeared as a guest against the Stars, and the Aces are also at full strength.
Manager Stewart Dickson said: “It’s a free hit really. We’re only two points up from the home match so we need to get 45 for the aggregate point, but it’s certainly not a track that riders don’t enjoy going to.
“I think they all like it, but it’s one of those where you have to get your set-up right, and that’s up to them to sort out.
“We go there in confident mood. I know it’s going to be tough, they’re a good side, but so are we and I believe we’ve got a chance there.”
BELLE VUE: Brady Kurtz, Norick Blodorn, Jaimon Lidsey, Zach Cook, Dan Bewley, Tate Zischke, Jake Mulford.
LEICESTER: Max Fricke, Luke Becker, Ryan Douglas, Kyle Howarth, Sam Masters, Drew Kemp, Joe Thompson.
