KING’S LYNN boss Rob Lyon insists his side remain cup underdogs despite going into tonight’s semi-final with a ten-point advantage.
The BSN cameras will be at Sheffield tonight as the Tigers aim for a third successive top-flight final against the rejuvenated Stars who won at Birmingham on Monday, their first win on the road for almost two years.
Sheffield’s last two outings at Owlerton both ended in 18 point victories though and they defeated the Stars 58-32 in their first home fixture of the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership campaign in April.
But the Stars are unbeaten in four meetings in all competitions, a renaissance which has coincided with the arrival of Czech GP star Jan Kvech.
Injury continues to deprive them of Tobiasz Musielak and Nicolai Klindt. Richard Lawson and Zach Cook guest in their place.
In contrast Sheffield are at full strength with Tigers’ boss Simon Stead admitting: “I would’ve liked to have been coming into this with the scores a little bit closer but with them leading by ten points after ten races at their place, I was pretty pleased that the lads were at least able to contain them in in the first leg.
“Whatever the scoreline I have full faith in the lads that they could get the job done.
“We just need to go out there, keep doing what we have been doing around Owlerton and as long as we do that, then I believe we’ll have more than what it takes to make it through.”
Stars’ team manager Rob Lyon said: “I think we’ll be underdogs given our form this year and Sheffield’s form, but we’ve got a ten-point lead and they’ve got to pull that back.
“Ideally we want to try to increase it but protect it at the very least.”
Sheffield: Jack Holder, Kyle Howarth, Chris Holder, Josh Pickering, Tai Woffinden, Jason Edwards, Dan Gilkes.
King’s Lynn: Richard Lawson, Zach Cook, Niels-Kristian Iversen, Benjamin Basso, Jan Kvech, Paco Castagna, Anders Rowe.
Words by George Dodds.
Images by Taylor Lanning.