It is a winner takes all tie this weekend as the Kent CTA Fire Kings take on Coventry in the second leg of the National League championship play-off semi-final.
The side are boosted by the return of skipper Simon Lambert to the number one spot in the most important match in the clubs short history this evening.
Leading by five points from the first leg at Central Park 10 days ago, the CTA Fire Kings know they’ll have to be at their very best to hold off the determined challenge of the Storm side based at Britain’s longest running Speedway circuit at Brandon in the West Midlands.
This is especially the case should Coventry have back fit in their septet, the twice GB Under 19s champion Stefan Nielsen – the Anglo-Dane who has recently been sidelined due to a broken arm suffered back in August, is poised to return to the Storm’s ranks: though his involvement will only be confirmed one way or the other after an afternoon fitness test on Friday.
One rider of course who is out, is the reigning U-19 national champ (winning the crown at Central Park last month before suffering a nasty leg injury), Ollie Greenwood – his place in the number one race jacket for the home side will be covered by ‘guest’ rider Joe Jacobs – the Suffolk-based racer who was beaten by the CTA Fire Kings’ own Ben Morley in the run-off for third place in last weekend’s National League Riders Championship.
Sixth on that occasion at Rye House on Sunday was the other Greenwood in the Storm’s ranks, Daniel – no relation to Oliver. The former GB under 15 champ Dan lines up as a second string for the Storm, showing their strength in depth; alongside recent signing, the very experienced Luke Priest.
Captaining the Coventry outfit is James Sarjeant – it could possibly be a last match of the season for the controversial rider as he faces (along with two Cradley Heathens riders) a Speedway Control Bureau (the sport’s governing body here in the UK) disciplinary court hearing on next Wednesday. But as that hearing’s delayed until then, Sarjeant is regardless of any potential outcome after an incident at the Storm’s last home match, eligible to lead his side out against Kent on Friday.
Completing that Coventry line-up with be the New Zealand raised, London-born rider Ryan Terry-Daley and long-travelling Cornishman, Martin Knuckey.
With Benji Compton and David Mason recovered from illness, the Kent CTA Fire Kings are poised to be at full-strength.
Sides (in alphabetical order):
Coventry Storm: Dan Greenwood, Joe Jacobs (G), Martin Knuckey, Stefan Nielsen, Luke Priest, James Sarjeant (Cpt), Ryan Terry-Daley
Kent CTA Fire Kings: Danny Ayres, Aaron Baseby. Benji Compton, Jason Garrad, Simon Lambert (Cpt), David Mason, Ben Morley
The meeting gets underway at 7.30pm at Coventry Speedway, Brandon Stadium, Rugby Road, Brandon, CV8 3GJ.