TWO of the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership’s form teams clash in what promises to be a red hot night in South Yorkshire.
Sheffield, who have been in devastating form on home shale winning each of their last three meetings 57-33, host an Ipswich side with a 100 per cent record after their opening eight fixtures.
Just for good measure the Witches were the last side to win in South Yorkshire just over a year ago..
Tigers’ heat-leader Chris Holder said: “They’re on a roll and with us riding how we are, it's definitely a meeting of the top two teams in the league.
“I think this one could be really good.
“We’ve disposed of every team quite comfortably that’s come here so far, including Belle Vue.”
Despite their perfect start – and five point lead over their hosts in the table – Ipswich are not resting on their laurels and tweak their riding order for what team manager Ritchie Hawkins admits will be their toughest test so far.
Adam Ellis moves to number two to partner Jason Doyle. Emil Sayfutdinov is at three with captain Danny King at four and Tom Brennan shifting to five for the trip to South Yorkshire.
Hawkins explained: Everything has worked perfectly so far, and I am more than happy with our but we are always striving to improve.
“Later on in the season there might be circumstances where we have to use a different riding order and we don’t want to go into that cold.
“We have had a lot of big battles with Sheffield in recent years and got over the hoodoo of not winning there for a long time last season.
“We know how to win there and what is required. We have got to attack them and the track.
“It is not do or die in this meeting and I’m sure we are going to be butting heads with Sheffield all season.”
Sheffield: Jack Holder, Anders Rowe, Josh Pickering, Justin Sedgmen, Chris Holder, Lewis Kerr, Leon Flint.
Ipswich: Jason Doyle, Adam Ellis, Emil Sayfutdinov, Danny King, Tom Brennan, Dan Thompson, Jordan Jenkins.
Words by George Dodds.
Images by Taylor Lanning.