King’s Lynn Stars set to face familiar faces tonight when Leicester Lions visit Norfolk Arena

Gavin Caney

Published: 5:45 AM July 16, 2014 Updated: 2:38 PM October 10, 2020

King's Lynn Stars are back in action this evening. Picture: Ian Burt - Credit: IAN BURT

The King's Lynn Stars take to the track for the first time in almost a fortnight this evening when they welcome Leicester Lions to the Norfolk Arena.

Rob Lyon's Elite League leaders – who have had 10 points removed from their total after Birmingham Brummies folded this week – haven't ridden since they lost at Eastbourne Eagles on July 5. And after the frustration of back-to-back defeats, and their home clash against Lakeside Hammers being rained off on Thursday, the Stars will be keen to blow away the cobwebs and keep up their play-off push tonight.

Lyon, whose club will celebrate a special 'Pink Day' in honour of captain Rory Schlein's fundraising effort for Breast Cancer Care, said: 'Make no mistake, this one will be no pushover as the Lions boast some riders in their top five who rank Lynn as one of their favourite tracks so our boys will need to be on their game.'

The Stars are full strength with the return of reserve Lewis Rose expected. Yet Lyon knows that their new A47 rivals will arrive in high spirits following a sensational last-heat victory over Eastbourne in front of the Sky Sports cameras on Monday.

The Lions track former Stars fans' favourite Mads Korneliussen and ex-riders Simon Stead – selected in Great Britain's World Cup squad for their meeting at Lynn on July 26 – and Nicolai Klindt in their line-up.

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So the trio will certainly know their way around a track which is deemed by many to be the best in the country. However, two of the trio's presence wasn't enough to stop the Stars extending their 2014 home unbeaten record, which still stands, when they visited Norfolk at the back end of April.

The Stars won 53-43 that evening despite Korneliussen scoring 13, paid 14, and Stead a decent nine. So the Lions will be looking to perform well again as they aim to move off the bottom of the table following the Brummies' demise.