LEICESTER manager Stewart Dickson says the club are relishing the prospect of next week’s ROWE Motor Oil Premiership play-off semi-final.
The Watling JCB Lions race at home to Sheffield next Monday (September 15) before travelling to Owlerton for the second leg on Thursday September 18, and they are looking to reach the Grand Final for a second successive season.
With the KO Cup already in the bag it has been another successful campaign for the Lions, with Sheffield being one of the teams they eliminated en route to that silverware.
But the Tigers themselves have been going well in recent weeks and it is all set up for a huge night at the Hydroscand Arena, Beaumont Park.
Dickson said: “Both sides will be going into the semi-final in good shape, and we’re certainly in confident mood.
“We know Sheffield have strengthened up somewhat since we knocked them out of the Cup, and I do think Nick Morris has made a difference for them, especially now he’s had a few matches.
“He obviously fits in well with the other Australians there, Picko (Josh Pickering) and the Holders, and we know he’s a fast gater, but I would also say we have Luke Becker back, and he’s gradually been getting back to form after his injury.
“Obviously we want to win the home leg and give ourselves a lead to defend, and I’m really not bothered that we have that meeting first. We’ve done it before against Sheffield with the home leg first.
“Our recent away form is good as well. We scored 54 at King’s Lynn and 58 at Birmingham, yes I know we got 40 at Sheffield, but we know we can get around that track and I feel there are areas where we can hurt them.
“I do expect a close semi-final, it might come down to who doesn’t have any bad luck, but this is what we’re here for and we’re all looking forward to it.”
Lions have had a break from team racing since they completed a home and away double over Birmingham at the end of August.
Their riders remain active in other competitions, and in other countries, and Dickson has confirmed he intends to track an unchanged line-up in terms of riding order against the Tigers.
He added: “I’m still cautiously watching elsewhere at the moment because we have riders involved in other meetings before Monday.
“Sam Masters’ meeting for Oxford was rained off on Wednesday but Drew Kemp is due to be racing on Saturday and Sunday, and Sheffield obviously have the same with Nick Morris, plus of course we have Max (Fricke) in the Grand Prix and Kyle (Howarth) for Glasgow.
“So first and foremost we hope they all come through those meetings unscathed and then we will get our full focus on Monday.
“It’s been nice to have the week in between, and I’m sure everyone will have been watching the other semi-final between Ipswich and Belle Vue. Then it will be time to concentrate ahead of two massive meetings ahead.”
