LEICESTER look to set up the first half another NDL trophy double as they travel to Mildenhall on Sunday (4pm) in the first leg of the KO Cup Final.
The first job for the Lion Cubs is to leave themselves in a winnable position overall ahead of the return fixture at the Pidcock Motorcycles Arena, Beaumont Park on October 14.
But they will travel to West Row without both Thompson twins, as Dan remains sidelined with his shoulder injury having not recovered sufficiently for a competitive return.
In addition, brother Joe also has to miss the fixture due to his re-arranged Championship Grand Final for Poole, which now sees them travel to Glasgow on Sunday.
In their places, Cubs boss Dave Howard has called up Belle Vue skipper Jack Smith at No.1 for Dan, whilst Edinburgh’s Jacob Hook comes in for Joe, with both riders having scored 12 points at the Suffolk venue on their visits with their regular clubs this season.
Tom Spencer continues as captain and the remainder of the Cubs team is as normal as they look to continue a recent successful record at West Row, including a dramatic Heat 15 victory in the NDL match earlier this season.
The Fen Tigers are also hampered by the Glasgow v Poole re-arrangement, which costs them the services of captain Lee Complin. The home side have booked Oxford’s Jody Scott to guest at No.5, who is another rider with a decent record at the track.
Howard said: “We always knew we could be affected by the Championship results and fixtures, and that’s why I was on the ‘phone last weekend for potential guests, to get the team as strong as it can be when we go to Mildenhall.
“We had a positive night for everybody when we beat them at home last week, and now what we want to do is keep that positive mindset going into the two Finals.”
MILDENHALL: Alfie Bowtell, Arran Butcher, Ben Trigger, George Congreve, Jody Scott, William Richardson, Kai Ward.
LEICESTER: Jack Smith, Ashton Boughen, Max Perry, Tom Spencer, Jacob Hook, Vinnie Foord, Max James.
