LEICESTER manager Stewart Dickson is calling for maximum backing for his side as they look to get back to winning ways in the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership on Monday.
The Watling JCB Lions face Sheffield at the Hydroscand Arena, Beaumont Park (7.30pm) in what will be the Tigers’ second visit in quick succession.
Last week the Lions raced to an impressive 54-36 victory to give them a decent advantage at the halfway stage of their KO Cup semi-final – but Dickson is expecting a response from the South Yorkshire side as they return in league action stung by the manner of that defeat.
And he’s asking for the Leicester public to do their bit in getting behind the team even though the meeting again takes place away from the Lions’ normal Thursday race-night for home meetings.
Dickson said: “I certainly don’t expect us to win by the same margin as last week, because as much as we were good in that meeting it was also clear that one or two of the Sheffield riders had an off-night, and they still are a very good side.
“It’s a meeting we very much need to win. It’s a couple of weeks ago now but we lost our last home match in the league against Birmingham.
“Although at the moment we have a nice gap to the sides outside the top four, we all know how quickly things can change in this sport, and we need to keep picking up the points.
“I know Sheffield have had to make one change from last week but it really doesn’t affect us too much as long as we approach it in the same manner as we did then.
“I’d urge the Leicester fans to come out and show their support. We’re in a good position in both competitions in early June, and we want the supporters generating the atmosphere around the stadium that the team can feed off.
“I know the Monday nights don't tend to be as popular for home meetings, and it’s very clear from our crowds that people do seem to prefer Thursdays.
“But we have a good weather forecast for the meeting and there was some great racing last week, so we really want as many people as possible cheering us on, it does make a difference to us all.”
Lions are unchanged from the KO Cup tie with Ryan Douglas looking to keep up his blistering form after a brilliant paid maximum in that meeting.
Sheffield are without No.1 Jack Holder who is competing in a GP Qualifier in Abensberg, Germany, but their guest replacement Tom Brennan has regularly shown strong form at Beaumont Park, whilst their other riders will be armed with the recent track knowledge from last week and can be expected to pose a real challenge after recent away wins at King’s Lynn and Oxford.
LEICESTER: Max Fricke, Luke Becker, Ryan Douglas, Kyle Howarth, Sam Masters, Drew Kemp, Joe Thompson.
SHEFFIELD: Tom Brennan, Anders Rowe, Josh Pickering, Lewis Kerr, Chris Holder, Justin Sedgmen, Leon Flint.
