Lions face two ex-team-mates
MASTERS AND WORRALL RETURN TO LEICESTER WITH THE MONARCHS
This fixture is a mustwin for us. The chase for a place in the play-offs is tightening up at the top end of the table
LEICESTER play host to the high-flying Edinburgh Monarchs team in a Championship fixture at the Paul Chapman and Sons Arena tonight, writes Alan Jones.
The Scottish club are currently second in the table at the halfway stage of the season and are heading for their first appearance in the play-offs since 2017.
The Monarchs have performed well on their travels, picking up away points in five of their seven completed fixtures.
The team includes two former Leicester riders – Sam Masters, who leads the side, and Richie Worrall, a member of the Lions’ championship-winning side from two years ago.
Alongside them is Josh Pickering who is in the best form of his career.
The trio form a strong spearhead and Leicester’s co-promoter David Darcy believes they will present a stern challenge to Lions’ top riders.
“We are mindful of Edinburgh’s strength at the top end of their team,” said Darcy.
“Our three heat leaders are also at the top of their form which was illustrated last week against Birmingham when Hans Andersen, Kyle Howarth and Nick Morris completed the match unbeaten by a visiting rider.
“It may be that point for point there will be little in it between either side from the three star men opposing one another and, therefore, perhaps the onus will be on the other members of the team to swing the match.
“I can foresee that whichever team is successful tonight it will be won or lost for either side by the support riders and reserves who will play a major role in the outcome.
“It may be an often used cliché but this fixture is a must-win match for us.
“The chase for a place in the playoffs is tightening up at the top end of the table and no club can afford to drop points at home between now and the end of the season. The Championship is evolving into a highly competitive league where you can perm any number of combinations as to the teams who will feature in the quarter-finals later this season.”
Leicester: 1. Hans Andersen, 2. Dan Thompson, 3. Kyle Howarth, 4. Nick Morris, 5. Ryan Douglas, 6. Joe Thompson and 7. Zaine Kennedy.
Edinburgh: 1. Sam Masters, 2. William Lawson, 3. Kye Thomson, 4. Josh Pickering, 5. Richie Worrall, 6. Luke Crang and 7. Nathan Greaves.