LEICESTER will secure top spot in the Championship ahead of the play-offs if they can beat Berwick at the Paul Chapman & Sons Arena on Sunday (6pm).
The Watling JCB Lions topped the table in 2019 and went on to take the league title, and whilst there are no guarantees of a repeat success in the autumn, first place in the regular schedule does allow the chance to plan a route to the Grand Final.
Lions have enjoyed a perfect record this season, backed up by an away record which means a total of 46 league points will be uncatchable by their rivals.
But they do have to get over the line against the Bandits, who provided stubborn opposition last season and are very much an unknown quantity, with a wild fluctuation in recent performances and results.
And the visitors are led by a very much in-form Chris Harris, along with newly crowned British Under-19 Champion Leon Flint.
Lions are forced into one change with Nick Morris now serving a compulsory week’s absence after missing Friday’s trip to Scunthorpe due to illness.
Richard Lawson once again comes in as guest, whilst the Bandits have declared a full strength side.
Boss Stewart Dickson said: “We know what’s at stake, and it’s all there for us to do. Berwick have had their problems recently but they’ve named a full team to us, and we just have to do what we’ve got to do.
“The incentive is there to finish top, and fingers crossed we can achieve it, as that will be very helpful further down the line.
“We certainly won’t be taking anything for granted knowing the form Bomber has been in this season and how well Leon Flint is going.
"The likes of Wells, Etheridge and so on are capable and could hurt us on the night, so we have to make sure we keep doing what we know we can here.”
*UPDATE: Sunday 9.15am: Berwick have confirmed Jonas Knudsen's permitted paid engagement ran out last night, and his visa is not through yet. Connor Coles guests for him on Sunday.
LEICESTER: Richard Lawson, Connor Mountain, Richie Worrall, Dan Thompson, Kyle Howarth, Max Clegg, Joe Thompson.
BERWICK: Chris Harris, Theo Pijper, Jye Etheridge, Ricky Wells, Leon Flint, Connor Coles, Nathan Stoneman.
