KING’S Lynn have a quick chance to return to winning ways at home when they host defending champions Sheffield at the Adrian Flux Arena on Monday (7.30pm).

The PSH Environmental Stars lost out to ROWE Motor Oil Premiership leaders Ipswich on Thursday on a night where selection of guests was extremely challenging.

That task is a little more straightforward on Monday given that there is only one other meeting taking place, hence the Stars have been able to recruit Leicester duo Richard Lawson and Luke Becker.

Lawson, a regular guest for Lynn this season, comes in at No.5 to replace the injured Nicolai Klindt, whilst American star Becker takes the ‘no facility’ position at No.1.

His average has dropped after a tough first half of the campaign, but his recent scores for the Lions have been far more reflective of his overall ability, and Stars will hope he can continue that form, whilst rider replacement remains in operation for Benjamin Basso.

Sheffield’s record around the AFA is well known, but Lynn can take confidence from an excellent performance the last time they faced the Tigers at home, when they won 50-40 in the first leg of their KO Cup semi-final.

The South Yorkshire side recently ended a four-match losing sequence in away matches when they held on for a narrow win at basement club Birmingham last week and they start the meeting second in the table, with the chance to close to within one point of Ipswich.

Sheffield are led by Grand Prix star Jack Holder and with Tai Woffinden on the sidelines with a broken shoulder, they bring in Australian racer Ryan Douglas to guest, and he comes in at No.3 alongside former Stars skipper Josh Pickering.

The aggregate point is firmly in the visitors’ favour after a 58-32 win at Owlerton in the reverse Round 1 fixture back in April, but a Stars win would keep alive their hopes of chasing down the sides above them during August.

Stars manager Rob Lyon said: “It’s probably going to be another backs to the wall effort that will be needed, but every match is different and we have to be positive.

“Whilst it’s still mathematically possible to make the play-offs, we have to keep going.

“Regarding Benjamin Basso it’s a little bit up in the air but he’s talking about two weeks, and we’ll have to see how it goes there.”

KING’S LYNN: Luke Becker, Benjamin Basso r/r, Jan Kvech, Niels-Kristian Iversen, Richard Lawson, Patryk Wojdylo, Anders Rowe.
SHEFFIELD: Jack Holder, Kyle Howarth, Ryan Douglas, Josh Pickering, Chris Holder, Jason Edwards, Dan Gilkes.