PREVIEW: Schroeck calls on Oxfordshire public to be Cheetahs’ eighth man in Play-Off opener

Peter Schroeck has issued a rallying call to the Oxfordshire public ahead of Wednesday’s Cab Direct Championship Play-Off opener against Glasgow Tigers at Oxford Stadium (7.30pm).

The Monarch Cheetahs have been placed in Group B with Tigers and Redcar Bears after ending the regular season in second place having secured 34 points from their 16 fixtures.

Each club will race each other once at home at once on the road with the top team advancing to the division’s two-legged Grand Final where they shall face the winners of Group A – either Poole Pirates, Scunthorpe Scorpions or Edinburgh Monarchs.

Cheetahs’ first fixture features recent Championship Pairs winners Chris Harris and Benjamin Basso, the former of whom broke the Sandy Lane track record at the beginning of the month when clocking 57.53 seconds.

Ahead of tapes-up, Schroeck has urged Cheetahs’ fanbase to be the team’s eighth man and has every faith in his side’s ability to start their Play-Off campaign on a winning note.

“Past results count for nothing now,” said Schroeck. “While the success story of this season remains relevant, we can’t allow it to cloud our mentality and impact how we approach these next four fixtures.

“Glasgow are a well-established side at this level and demonstrated on Friday in our final regular season meeting how powerful they can be when things click. We’re wary of that, but at the same time have confidence in our own ability to do a good job on home shale.

“It’s key we make the most of our home track knowledge as aggregate bonus points could dictate who ends the mini-league top and who has to watch the Grand Final from afar.

“A lot of what we achieve on the track in the coming fortnight will be down to the support we receive off it. So bring your friends, tell your family, and let’s pack out Oxford Stadium and continue to build on the positive momentum we’ve established this year.”

Tapes-up at Oxford Stadium for the Monarch Cheetahs’ Cab Direct Championship Play-Off opener against Glasgow Tigers is at 7.30pm. Tickets are on sale now via the club website with adults priced £20 (£22 on the day) and all U16s go free.

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

Glasgow Tigers: Chris Harris, Claus Vissing R/R, Benjamin Basso, Tom Brennan, Vadim Tarasenko, Lee Complin, Jack Smith (G).