SHEFFIELD boss Simon Stead vows it’s not “mission impossible” to overturn Leicester in the KO Cup.
The Tigers need to overturn an 18-point deficit to reach a fourth straight cup final in the top flight at Owlerton, live on BSN, on Thursday night.
The Tru7 Group Tigers were beaten 54-36 at the Hydroscand Arena at the beginning of the month and have a sizable task on their hands to beat the Lions on aggregate.
Ironically, however, Leicester lost by 18 at Ipswich on Monday night whilst the Tigers still have their 100 per cent home record intact after winning another last heat decider against King’s Lynn last Thursday.
Influential club captain Josh Pickering returns to the side having missed last week’s two league meetings with a shoulder problem.
But the Tigers will be without in-form Rising Star Leon Flint who has suffered a Type 2 Rockwood injury (a separation around his left shoulder/collarbone) after a crash whilst representing Landshut on Sunday.
With clubs only permitted to select a guest from the Rising Star list who don’t currently have a Premiership team spot, they have turned to Steelers’ No.1 Nathan Ablitt to deputise at No.7.
Stead said: “18 points down – are we up against it? Yes, probably. Is it mission impossible? Not at all!
“I know the past is the past and all of that but 18 points is a magic number at this stadium and whenever you hear that margin, you can’t help but think of that 2023 Grand Final here against Ipswich.
“Leicester had a massive off night at Ipswich on Monday by their own high standards that they have set in recent weeks – but it does go to reiterate what is possible if you get out and hit them hard from the off.
“It goes without saying that we need a much more dominant, all-round team display than in our last two home meetings and we need points from all areas of the team.”
SHEFFIELD: Jack Holder, Anders Rowe, Josh Pickering, Lewi Kerr, Chris Holder, Justin Sedgmen, Nathan Ablitt.
LEICESTER: Max Fricke, Luke Becker R/R, Ryan Douglas, Kyle Howarth, Sam Masters, Drew Kemp, Joe Thompson.
Stream live from 7.00pm here
Words by Holeshot Media.
Images by Taylor Lanning.