KING’S LYNN have called on the last Leicester captain to lift a senior trophy to plot the Lions’ Premiership Knockout Cup final downfall.
Scott Nicholls led the East Midlands side to victory in the 2019 Championship Grand Final and the seven-times British Champion is the man called upon by the Stars to replace injured Ben Cook in tonight’s second leg.
With the tie on a knife-edge following Monday’s draw at the Adrian Flux Arena, Lynn believe Nicholls’ knowledge of the Hydroscand Arena and winning mentality – he also skippered Peterborough’s “Dads Army” to the 2021 Premiership crown – will allow them to pull off an upset in front of the BSN cameras.
The 47-year-old has only recently resumed racing with Championship Plymouth after surgery on a shoulder damaged while riding for Oxford in last year’s Championship equivalent.
Tom Brennan continues to deputise for Luke Becker for Leicester, who have won the two home ROWE Motor Oil Premiership clashes between the sides by 16 and 14 points, in what has become a straight shootout for glory.
Team manager Stewart Dickson admits Leicester are strong favourites to lift top league silverware for the first time in the club’s history but is taking nothing for granted.
He said: “Whilst we are halfway there the job is not done by any means.
“I’m very mindful King’s Lynn have Nicolai Klindt at reserve and he’s likely to have seven rides again.
“It’s essential that we have a full team performance with all seven riders contributing.
“Both teams had great backing on Monday night, and I’m sure that will be the case again on Thursday.
“This is one of the club’s biggest nights, especially in the top league, so let’s see if we can get it over the line and make a bit of history.”
Opposite number Rob Lyon wants his King’s Lynn side – cup winners in 1977 and 2000 – to channel the team spirit which saw them upset the odds and draw at Ipswich in the second leg of the semi-final.
Lyon said: “We did it there and there’s no reason why we can’t do it again.
“Leicester have lost at home to Birmingham this year so anything can happen in speedway. Everyone in our team has been around Leicester enough times and know what the track is going to be like.
“It’s not going to be a surprise, so it’s down to our boys to pull off a victory – and a victory gives us the cup.”
Tonight’s meeting is included in BSN’s Total Season and Premiership Passes or can be purchased as a one-off here.
Leicester: Max Fricke, Tom Brennan, Ryan Douglas, Kyle Howarth, Sam Masters, Drew Kemp, Joe Thompson.
King’s Lynn: Niels-Kristian Iversen, Richard Lawson, Chris Harris, Scott Nicholls, Jan Kvech, Nicolai Klindt, Luke Harrison.
Words by George Dodds.
Images by Taylor Lanning.