Speedway: Sheffield face 'bogey team' in vital KO Cup clash
First leg clash set for Owlerton on Thursday night
Sheffield face ‘bogey team’ Leicester on Thursday (April 16, 7.30pm), as they bid to progress in the KO Cup.
The Tigers will be looking to build on their 56-34 opening home win over Belle Vue a fortnight ago - a result which means their destiny is in their own hands.
The South Yorkshire side know that one win and claiming the aggregate point against the Lions would be enough to see them secure their place in this year’s cup final.
And with the ultimate decider set to take place in the East Midlands next week (Thursday, April 23), club captain Josh Pickering is hoping for another big night under the Owlerton lights to set things up nicely.
“Leicester were our bogey team last year but it’s a track I enjoy going to, it’s a track we know we can go well at, but let’s try and make life a bit easier for ourselves by picking up a nice win at home,” Pickering said.
“We all chipped in against Belle Vue and we’re going to need more of that but we’re looking forward to it.
“Hats off to the track staff as well - they’d been off for six months also but the track settled down nicely, it was prepared well and we enjoyed it out there.
“The crowd was absolutely packed out against Belle Vue; to see those sorts of numbers was unbelievable at Sheffield and hopefully that can continue on Thursday and going into the rest of the season.”
Both teams are set to be at full strength with Leicester including Nick Morris, who rode for Sheffield in 2025.
Sheffield: Jack Holder, Anders Rowe, Chris Holder, Leon Flint, Josh Pickering, Jye Etheridge, Luke Killeen.
Leicester: Ryan Douglas, Dan Thompson, Nick Morris, Kyle Howarth, Sam Masters, Drew Kemp, Joe Thompson.