Speedway: Sheffield Tigers prepare for 'awesome' grand final against Belle Vue
Max Fricke set to guest for Tigers again
Sheffield speedway skipper Josh Pickering predicts an ‘awesome’ play off final ahead of Thursday’s Premiership Grand Final first leg against Belle Vue.
The first leg at Owlerton will be the start of the Tigers’ first Premiership Grand Final in three years (October 8, 7.30pm).
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“It’s going to be awesome,” Pickering said. “We’ve done them twice on aggregate already this year and we’ve had some great results against them at home, winning all three with one of them by 22 points and one of them by 18.
“I think it’s good for us to have the first leg first; it gives us the opportunity to put ourselves in a good position going to their place for the decider.
“I think banging in a good amount of points at home will be important to then give us something to shepherd away.”
Max Fricke guests for Tigers at number one in place of the injured Jack Holder and Holder, who has been watching the team’s performances from the sidelines, feels Sheffield need a big performance at home.
He said: “Anything can happen now; it all comes down to 30, maybe even 31, heats. I think we need a big performance at home, which the boys have shown they’re capable of doing. “
Tigers have qualified for the top-flight play-offs for a sixth successive year and hope to add another league title to their roll of honour with the decider taking place in Manchester on Monday (October 12, 7.30pm).
Belle Vue ended the season as the regular table toppers, and are at full strength for the first leg.
The last time the two clubs met in the Grand Final, in 2022, Belle Vue ended up winning by just two points on aggregate, although Tigers went on to build on the experience, winning the title themselves against Ipswich the following season, in 2023.
Sheffield: Max Fricke, Anders Rowe, Chris Holder, Leon Flint, Josh Pickering, Jye Etheridge, Luke Killeen.
Belle Vue: Brady Kurtz, Norick Blodorn, Peter Kildemand, Zach Cook, Jason Doyle, Tate Zischke, William Cairns.