KING’S Lynn stage the biggest meeting of their season at the Adrian Flux Arena on Monday (7.30pm) with the first leg of the League Cup Final against Sheffield.
The Minors & Brady Stars are looking to end an up-and-down campaign on a massive high by clinching the club’s first full-team top-flight silverware in over two decades.
Standing in their way are a Tigers side who have very much held the Indian sign over the Stars over the last two seasons – because Sheffield have recorded three wins and a draw on their four visits to Norfolk since returning to the Premiership last year.
It was a home defeat to the Yorkshire side in early September which ended the Stars’ play-off chances – but the mood in the camp is now far stronger with a full one-to-seven of regular King’s Lynn riders on track on Monday.
That includes Danish star Frederik Jakobsen at reserve, who returned from injury with a blockbusting 16+1 haul against Wolverhampton last time out, and his presence could be crucial in the Cup Final.
Sheffield have several riders who have shown their liking for the AFA on numerous occasions, with both Tobiasz Musielak and Justin Sedgmen hitting double figures in September – and Musielak also scored big their previous victory in June.
But the Tigers have to raise themselves from major disappointment last week as, after topping the regular Premiership table, they lost out in the Grand Final to Belle Vue who were therefore crowned league champions.
Stars manager Alex Brady said: “It’s been a long while off the bike as a team, but the majority of the boys have been keeping busy so we can have no excuses of rustiness.
“Sheffield have done well here this season against us but I believe we’re a better team than we were on those nights, and we’ve been right in the mix away from home at Owlerton too, so I think this is one that could go either way.
“But if we do our jobs over the two legs to the best of our ability, I believe King’s Lynn will end up on the right side of the aggregate result.”
With a big crowd expected, supporters are advised to arrive as early as possible for Monday’s meeting. The return fixture is at Owlerton on Thursday.
KING’S LYNN: Richard Lawson, Thomas Jorgensen, Richie Worrall, Josh Pickering, Nicolai Klindt, Frederik Jakobsen, Jason Edwards. SHEFFIELD: Jack Holder, Lewis Kerr, Adam Ellis, Kyle Howarth, Tobiasz Musielak, Justin Sedgmen, Connor Mountain.
