PREVIEW: Cheetahs target top spot as Championship cut-off date looms

The Monarch Oxford Cheetahs race their final home Cab Direct Championship fixture of the regular season on Tuesday night when entertaining play-off bound Scunthorpe Scorpions.

It’s the first of two meetings for Peter Schroeck’s side this week ahead of Sunday’s looming cut-off date when the division’s six play-off spots and the league leaders will be finalised.

Cheetahs are one of two teams who can still finish the season top of the table which would allow the club the priviledge of choosing their play-off opponents.

Assuming Poole Pirates win at Edinburgh on Wednesday, Cheetahs will need to defeat both Scunthorpe at home on Tuesday and Championship Pairs winners Glasgow Tigers at the Peugeot Ashfield Stadium on Friday night.

Schroeck confirmed his riders are up for the challenge and hopes to round-off the regular season in style.

“This is a big week for us,” said Schroeck. “Finishing top of the league would be a massive achievement for everyone connected to the club just 17 months after our return.

“That’s our target, but we know there’s still work to do. Scunthorpe are the division’s dark-horses in my opinion. They’ve gone about their business well and have picked up some useful results on the road which have perhaps gone under the radar.

“Cameron (Heeps) is back in the main body of the team with Henry (Atkins) back at reserve. That can be a real trump card for us as Henry has been a real gem for us, especially at home, this year.

“We’ve got a perfect forecast on our side so the boys are fired up for this one and we hope to round-off our regular season fixtures in style and retain our 100% record on home shale in the league.”

Tickets for the Monarch Cheetahs’ final regular season Cab Direct Championship fixture of the season are on sale now via the club website.

Adults are priced £20 and ALL U16s go FREE! Tapes-up is at 7.30pm.

Monarch Cheetahs: Sam Masters, Cameron Heeps, Lewis Kerr, Jordan Jenkins, Scott Nicholls, Henry Atkins, Ashton Boughen.

Scunthorpe Scorpions: Ryan Douglas, Connor Mountain, Simon Lambert, Michael Palm Toft, Jake Allen, Nathan Ablitt, Drew Kemp.