SHEFFIELD can close the gap at the top of the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership when depleted Birmingham visit Owlerton tonight.
With leaders Ipswich in KO Cup action and Belle Vue not racing, there is a potential for the Tigers to add three more points to the five they have collected from their previous two outings.
The two sides drew 45-45 in the West Midlands back in March meaning a third straight win would see them leapfrog the ATPI Aces and move to within a point of the Witches.
But they are again without Josh Pickering who remains on the sidelines with a shoulder injury and will operate rider-replacement for the Australian.
Birmingham arrive in South Yorkshire on the back of victory at home to Ipswich on Monday but will be without Polish pairing Piotr Pawlicki and Wiktor Lampart who are racing in their national final.
Scunthorpe’s Simon Lambert guests at reserve with rider-replacement operating at number one in Birmingham’s last meeting before Swede Freddie Lindgren joins the club.
They include in-form Great Britain international Tom Brennan, who guested for Sheffield in their Bank Holiday victory at Belle Vue, alongside former Tiger Justin Sedgmen while former fans’ favourite Sam Ermolenko team manages the Brummies.
Sheffield skipper Kyle Howarth is demanding a professional performance by his side from the off.
“Birmingham have got a weaker side coming to us but we can’t take it for granted – the day you do that is the day you’re probably going to get beaten,” Howarth said.
“We’re not easing off against anyone now, we want to keep this momentum going and we’re going for a big win.”
Sheffield: Jack Holder, Josh Pickering R/R, Chris Holder, Kyle Howarth, Tai Woffinden, Jason Edwards, Dan Gilkes.
Birmingham: Piotr Pawlicki R/R, Steve Worrall, Zach Cook, Justin Sedgmen, Tom Brennan, Simon Lambert, Leon Flint.
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Words by George Dodds.
Images by Taylor Lanning.