Lynn go into a crucial home clash with Sheffield tonight (7.30pm) with victory essential in the race for the play-offs.
The PSH Environmental Stars are fifth in the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership table, two points behind Ipswich and four behind Sheffield, those being the teams they can most realistically catch.
Their last encounter with the Tigers was hugely dramatic as the Stars fought back from ten points down at Owlerton with a run of four successive 5-1s to snatch a sensational victory.
Stars boss Rob Lyon. Picture: Ian Burt
That completed a league double in the Round 1 fixtures as one of Lynn’s best performances of the season saw them gain a 49-41 home win over the South Yorkshire club back in April.
But the Tigers do historically have a good record at the Adrian Flux Arena and this is likely to be another tough test.
Both Max Fricke and Jan Kvech were in good form at Saturday’s GP of Poland in Lodz, and the Stars will deploy the same top-five riding order as in last week’s match at Northampton.
There is a change at reserve as Jordan Jenkins is sidelined as he awaits news of the extent of a back injury.
August averages offer the Stars additional scope for guest replacements, and Jason Edwards steps in at No.6.
The Tigers remain without No.1 Jack Holder who has been ruled out since a heavy crash in the Wroclaw GP on June 20.
They bring in 2025 Stars rider Richard Lawson to guest at No.1, whilst three other members of their top five have had previous spells at the AFA, including skipper Josh Pickering.
Lynn manager Rob Lyon said: “Sheffield and Ipswich realistically are probably the two teams that are likely to be in the mix with us the way it’s going.
“Teams will race each other and drop points, so there’s a bit of a way to go yet, but obviously as that window gets narrower it’s important that you pick points up every time a meeting is raced.
“I’m just hoping we can get to the play-offs and then really show our true potential as a team, which we had at the start of the season.
“Getting there is the first hurdle and it’s proving to be difficult and frustrating, but we’ll keep on fighting and hopefully it will be enough.”
Lynn Stars: Max Fricke, Cooper Rushen, Chris Harris, Ben Cook, Jan Kvech, Jason Edwards, Jody Scott.
Sheffield: Richard Lawson, Anders Rowe, Chris Holder, Leon Flint, Josh Pickering, Jye Etheridge, Luke Killeen.
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