SHEFFIELD are at full strength on-track as they bid to claw back an eight-point KO Cup deficit against Belle Vue but they have been forced to call in a guest behind the scenes.
The second leg, originally scheduled for 4 April, was one of three early season Owlerton rain-offs but team manager Simon Stead is unavailable tonight due to a long-standing trip abroad. Plymouth’s Garry May deputises in the pits.
Sheffield are undefeated since that 49-41 Easter Monday first leg reverse in Manchester while the Aces arrive in South Yorkshire having lost three of their four away outings so far.
But they were boosted by their biggest win of the year to date, beating Birmingham 57-33 at the National Speedway Stadium on Monday. It promises to be a typically enthralling War of the Roses, with Tigers’ heat-leader Tai Woffinden – who dropped just one point to an opponent in the first leg – optimistic that his side can reach the semi-finals.
Woffy said: “You already know we’ll give it to them the best we can and we’d feel confident of turning anything around at home.
“The boys are going well. We’ve just got to keep chipping away. Obviously for the club we’d like to achieve as much as possible but for us as speedway riders, it’s also a chance to earn ourselves some extra meetings.”
Belle Vue are led by in-form skipper Brady Kurtz and also include British Grand Prix star Dan Bewley, current British Under-21 Champion Connor Bailey and former World Under-21 Champion Jaimon Lidsey.
Sheffield: Jack Holder, Kyle Howarth, Chris Holder, Josh Pickering, Tai Woffinden, Jason Edwards, Dan Gilkes,
Belle Vue: Brady Kurtz, Norick Blodorn, Jaimon Lidsey, Ben Cook, Dan Bewley, Connor Mountain, Connor Bailey.
Words by George Dodds.
Images by Taylor Lanning.