SHEFFIELD boss Simon Stead knows that Belle Vue will be “fired-up” for their big clash.
The Tigers and ATPI Aces are currently level on points in the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership standings, with the Yorkshire side second on points difference.
They have already dumped the Aces out of the Knockout Cup in a Super Heat in May but the Tigers need to get back on track following successive ten point defeats on their travels at King’s Lynn and Ipswich.
They have only lost once in the Steel City this term and raced to a comfortable 54-36 win over Birmingham last time out there.
Belle Vue have just a single win out of five road trips this season, in stark contrast to their dominant home form.
The one blip was when Sheffield ended the Aces’ long winning streak in Manchester last month with a 35-25 success in a rain-curtailed contest at the National Speedway Stadium.
Tigers’ team boss Simon Stead said: “I’m sure Mark Lemon will have his boys fired up for this one after we beat them on their own patch.
“Belle Vue have been a bit up and down on the road so far this season but they’re one of those teams who could just turn it on if they’re in the mood.
“Everyone knows what this meeting means to the supporters, so hopefully we can send them all home with a smile on their faces come 10pm.”
Sheffield are at full strength whilst Belle Vue use Chris Harris, who won five of his six outings at Kyle Howarth’s Testimonial last week, as a guest in place of Brady Kurtz who remains absent from the Aces’ line-up despite scoring a four ride maximum in Poland on Saturday.
The visitors also include current Grand Prix star Dan Bewley who recently won his third consecutive British Championship title.
*Sports fans can get their fix at the double in South Yorkshire tonight.
Sheffield are opening the turnstiles at 4.45pm tonight for fans who want to watch England’s European Football Championship clash with Denmark which is being screened in the Panorama Room Bar from 5pm.
Once the football is over it’s all systems go for the Battle of the Roses against Belle Vue which has a slightly later start time of 8pm because of the football in Frankfurt.
Sheffield: Jack Holder, Kyle Howarth, Chris Holder, Josh Pickering, Tai Woffinden, Jason Edwards, Dan Gilkes
Belle Vue: Chris Harris, Norick Blodorn, Jaimon Lidsey, Ben Cook, Dan Bewley, Connor Mountain, Connor Bailey.
Words by George Dodds.
Images by Taylor Lanning.