SHEFFIELD are looking to bolster their place in the play-off positions when they host Oxford on Thursday (July 25, 7.30pm).

It promises to be another important night in the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership with bottom club Birmingham the only team not in action.

The Tru7 Group Tigers currently sit five points behind leaders Ipswich with a meeting in hand, whilst they also have one on Belle Vue who they currently sit level on points with in the standings.

It’s Thursday’s visitors Oxford who occupy the fourth and final play-off place as things stand - they are four points behind Sheffield but have ridden three more fixtures.

More importantly though, the Tigers have an eight point cushion over fifth placed Leicester thanks to back-to-back victories.

The Steel City side raced to their biggest win of the season at home to King’s Lynn last Thursday before battling to their first away success since the end of May at Birmingham on Monday.

Reserve Jason Edwards scored 13+4 across those two fixtures, registering a new personal top-flight best for the season on both of those occasions.

And he’s looking to provide another key contribution against the Spires - alongside fellow reserve Dan Gilkes.

“We’ve both been struggling for points in this league so for us to both have a good night on Monday didn’t half make a difference,” Edwards said.

“We know how important our points can be for the team and we’re all so glad how quickly the meetings are starting to come now.

“We’ve all got something to build on these last couple of meetings and we just want to keep that going no matter who we’re up against.”

The Tigers will operate Rider Replacement at No.2 for the injured Tai Woffinden as they revert back to the same riding order as their last home meeting whilst the visitors include Australian Champion Rohan Tungate, triple British Champion Chris Harris and Polish World Cup winner Maciej Janowski.

Turnstiles open at 6pm and admission is £23 adults, £21 concessions (over 65s and students - both with evidence), £1 kids (up to and including age 17) whilst all under-5s are admitted free of charge.

Supporters are also reminded that the Carvery Restaurant, Panorama Room and Snack Bar will all be open as usual.

SHEFFIELD: Jack Holder, Tai Woffinden R/R, Josh Pickering, Kyle Howarth, Chris Holder, Jason Edwards, Dan Gilkes.
OXFORD: Rohan Tungate, Erik Riss, Maciej Janowski, Charles Wright, Chris Harris, Ashton Boughen, Luke Killeen.