SHEFFIELD travel to Wolverhampton on Monday (September 25, 7.30) for the first leg of their Sports Insure Premiership play-off semi-final.

It’s the third straight season that the Tru Plant Tigers have reached this stage since stepping up to the top-flight and they are hoping to go one better this term having finished runners-up in 2022.

They face a Wolves side who they defeated in last year’s semi-final - and the pair have been involved in a trio of tight two-legged affairs throughout this campaign.

Overall, Sheffield have come out on top 271-269 to date, emphasising the close nature of their contests with the Wolves.

The Owlerton outfit are injury hit ahead of the semi-finals though with Tobiasz Musielak out with a broken tibia, Claus Vissing struggling with a knee injury whilst the club continue to monitor the progress of broken hand victim Tai Woffinden who is set to attempt to race in the Polish play-offs on Sunday night.

For the trip to Monmore Green though, Sheffield have booked British Grand Prix star Robert Lambert as well as Leicester duo Richard Lawson and Drew Kemp to guest.

But with their opponents tracking their full strength team, Sheffield co-promoter Damien Bates reckons his side will be the underdogs.

“For me, all the pressure and expectation should be on Wolves because they’re racing with their regular 1-7 who’ve been together from press day,” Bates said.

“So we’ve got nothing to lose and everything to gain in a way.

“But one thing’s for certain, Steady (Simon Stead - team manager) will make sure each and every one of those riders who are representing Sheffield over the two legs know how much this means to us and the supporters and we’d love to cause an upset with the odds stacked against us.”

WOLVERHAMPTON: Sam Masters, Steve Worrall, Luke Becker, Ryan Douglas, Rory Schlein, Zach Cook, Leon Flint.
SHEFFIELD: Robert Lambert, Kyle Howarth, Chris Holder, Josh Pickering, Richard Lawson, Drew Kemp, Jason Edwards.