SHEFFIELD are without two of their regular starting seven as they prepare to host Leicester on Thursday.
Fans’ favourite Josh Pickering is in Poland waiting to find out the full extent of his shoulder injuries following a crash racing for Edinburgh in the Championship while Rising Star Dan Gilkes is also sidelined after suffering concussion in a Polish Under-24 League spill.
With Birmingham the only top-flight side not in action, Tigers’ bosses have booked former Wolverhampton star Rory Schlein – racing with Championship Berwick this season – as guest.
The Aussie lines up at number two as skipper Kyle Howarth switches to four. Redcar’s former Belle Vue Rising Star Jake Mulford lines-up at reserve alongside Jason Edwards is fit again after missing Sheffield’s home defeat by hands of Ipswich with a fractured cheekbone.
For the Lions Sam Hagon, who has been in fine early-season form in the Championship for Poole, makes his top-flight debut after replacing Joe Thompson as Rising Star.
Postponements mean that the Lions have not ridden as a team since a home defeat by Ipswich three weeks ago.
Sheffield are looking to avoid suffering back-to-back home defeats for the first time in almost three years but Leicester arrive with a strong top five led by former Grand Prix star Max Fricke.
Sheffield heat-leader Chris Holder says his patched-up side knows it’s going to need an all-round team effort to get the better of the Lions.
He said: “Max has been going good, and while they don’t have any other massive names, every one of their boys can beat anybody.
“We’re going to have to be ready to rock and roll from heat one and all contribute if we want to make up for last week.”
Leicester manager Stewart Dickson said: “I’ve always said Ipswich and Sheffield are the two best teams, in my opinion, in the Premiership and Thursday will be another tough encounter for us.
“But if we can get all seven firing at one time, you never know. We’re already down on the aggregate point so it’s tough, but we will go there and try to give a good account of ourselves as we always do.”
The aggregate point is also on the line with the Tigers leading by two following their 46-44 win at the Pidcock Motorcycles Arena last month.
Sheffield: Jack Holder, Rory Schlein, Chris Holder, Kyle Howarth, Tai Woffinden, Jason Edwards, Jake Mulford.
Leicester: Max Fricke, Richard Lawson, Ryan Douglas, Sam Masters, Luke Becker, Drew Kemp, Sam Hagon.
Words by George Dodds.
Images by Taylor Lanning.