SHEFFIELD co-promoter Damien Bates has urged his side to get their Championship title defence off to a winning start against Peterborough at Owlerton on Thursday (7.30).

After their unforgettable title triumph in 2017, the revamped Window Centre Tigers will start the new league campaign with a tough test.

The Panthers arrive led by seven-time British Champion Scott Nicholls plus former Premier League Riders’ Champion Ulrich Ostergaard and will have high hopes of causing an early-season upset.

But Bates is backing his side to build on their crushing win over Newcastle in the Championship Shield last week to make it two wins from two.

Said Bates: “It was a good win for us last week, but I’m sure Peterborough will be a tougher opposition.

“They traditionally ride our track well and they’ve got some good riders, but as defending Champions we want to start as we mean to go on.

“Our aim is to win at home all year as we did last season, so we don’t want any slip-ups early on.”

SHEFFIELD: Kyle Howarth, Todd Kurtz, Charles Wright, Josh Bates R/R, Lasse Bjerre, Jack Smith, James Shanes.
PETERBOROUGH: Scott Nicholls, Emil Grondal, Nike Lunna, Michael Palm Toft, Ulrich Ostergaard, Tom Bacon, Simon Lambert.