Speedway: Line ups announced as Sheffield seek to seal play-offs place at Owlerton
One point needed for Sheffield in last home meeting before possible play-offs
Sheffield are on the edge of securing a play-offs place - and a win over bottom placed Northampton at Owlerton on Thursday would seal it.
The Tigers are set to use rider replacement at Owlerton for the meeting, as they did for their narrow defeat at Ipswich on Monday, which was enough to secure an important aggregate point, Leon Flint top scoring with 11.
A point would mathematically ensure Sheffield finish clear of fifth placed King’s Lynn in the Rowe Motor Oil Premiership.
Sheffield won the previous meeting with the Foxes at Owlerton, 58-32, in what was their biggest win of the season so far.
Thursday will see Sheffield use rider replacement for number one Jack Holder, but the visitors bring in a guest to cover for their reserve, Mitch McDiarmid, who is in Denmark ahead of the final round of the SGP2 (World Under-21) series which takes place at Vojens on Friday.
Northampton bring in Scunthorpe rider Nathan Ablitt, who has previously ridden for the joint Sheffield-Scunthorpe National Development League side which ran in 2024 and 2025.
The visitors’ manager, Chris Adams, will also be absent from this meeting due to a pre-booked commitment abroad. Co-promoter Paul Hunsdon will take on team management duties on the night.
Hunsdon said: “We were aware when we signed Mitch that he would be unavailable on this date due to his SGP2 arrangements.
“So we’re looking forward to welcoming Nathan in for this meeting. He’s ridden at Sheffield before when they were in the NDL and he’s also guested in the Premiership there, and it’s always nice to bring in a talented young rider.
“Obviously we all remember our last performance at Sheffield when we had a disastrous first four heats, although after that we rode quite well – so we need to ensure we start a lot quicker than we did last time!”
Sheffield: Jack Holder R/R, Anders Rowe, Chris Holder, Leon Flint, Josh Pickering, Jye Etheridge, Luke Killeen.
Northampton: Niels-Kristian Iversen, Kye Thomson, Nicolai Klindt, Adam Ellis, Jaimon Lidsey, Nathan Ablitt, Luke Harrison.