LEICESTER supporters have another opportunity to celebrate the club’s Knockout Cup triumph as their team face a home league clash with Oxford on Monday (7.30pm).
It will be the Watling JCB Lions’ first fixture at the Hydroscand Arena, Beaumont Park since they secured the silverware against King’s Lynn ten days ago.
The trophy will be on display before the meeting on Monday, and all supporters will be able take their own photo with it between 6pm-7.30pm.
On track, the Lions are close to securing their place in the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership play-offs, and it is possible that a top four finish will be assured by the close of play.
To do so, Leicester must do their own job first and foremost by defeating the Spires, and then hope that King’s Lynn – the only team from outside the current top four who can mathematically make it in – slip up at bottom club Birmingham, a venue where they were defeated earlier in the season.
Team news sees the Lions once again operating rider replacement for Luke Becker, who made his comeback from serious back injuries ahead of schedule in Poland at the weekend.
The American won his first two races for Ostrow in their 51-39 defeat at Krosno, and he ended up with a score of nine points from six rides.
That activity has seen him suffer an aggravation of the injury and he will therefore undergo intensive physio over the coming days, with the expectation that he will return to Lions colours in the home match against Ipswich a week on Monday (August 18).
Oxford have endured a tough season with all four of their wins so far coming against Birmingham, although their previous visit to Leicester provided plenty of entertainment.
The Spires operate rider replacement for long-term illness victim Erik Riss, whilst recent signing Victor Palovaara has also been ruled out as he too is unwell, meaning a ‘reduced facility’ as he is yet to make an appearance for the club.
Australian prospect Mitch McDiarmid, who races for Oxford in the Championship, comes in to guest, and the Spires will hope for improved fortunes for skipper Maciej Janowski compared to his previous visit, and for points at reserve from Peter Kildemand and the improving Luke Killeen.
Leicester manager Stewart Dickson said: “It’s another important meeting for us, and one we need to be winning to keep the momentum going.
“Whilst we are in a very strong position for making the play-offs I’ve said before I want to finish as high up as possible in the league, and we would certainly want to go into that part of the season in good form.
“There were a lot of celebrations here last time because of the KO Cup win, and I’m sure that means there will be a good atmosphere once again, but our focus now is on league business and we want those two points on offer.”
LEICESTER: Max Fricke, Luke Becker R/R, Ryan Douglas, Kyle Howarth, Sam Masters, Drew Kemp, Joe Thompson.
OXFORD: Charles Wright, Erik Riss R/R, Maciej Janowski, Mitch McDiarmid, Rohan Tungate, Peter Kildemand, Luke Killeen.
