PREVIEW: Cheetahs fired up for “biggest fixture of new era” away to Glasgow

The Monarch Oxford Cheetahs have their first chance of reaching the Cab Direct Championship Play-Off Grand Final on Tuesday night when travelling to Glasgow Tigers.

Cheetahs enter the fixture unbeaten in Group B and sit at the top of the three-team table with seven points out of possible seven following triumphs over Glasgow and Redcar at home and an additional win at Redcar on the road.

Those results mean should Cheetahs win, draw or lose by nine points or less at Glasgow, Peter Schroeck’s side will advance to the Championship’s two-legged Grand Final where they will face the winners of Group A – either Scunthorpe, Poole or Edinburgh.

Schroeck has been forced into making one change ahead of Cheetahs’ trip north of the border with Jordan Jenkins missing out following his crash on Sunday. Rider replacement will be operated in his absence while Luke Killeen will line-up at number eight.

Schroeck described Cheetahs’ trip to Scotland as the most significant meeting of the club’s new era and reported a positive atmosphere in the camp ahead of tapes-up.

“We’ve had a fantastic season to date and this is what our efforts through the year boils down to,” said Schroeck. “There is no doubt in my mind we have the capability of doing the job required, but equally Glasgow are a strong outfit and their home record speaks for itself.

“We’ve already raced at Glasgow this month which is a factor we can definitely use to our advantage. But ultimately we need to make a good start and in a perfect world we won’t be relying on the late heats to get the job done.

“It’s a blow to be without Jordan (Jenkins). He’s been an absolute star for us this season and he’s devastated to miss out on the occasion. It’s up to the rest of us to step up and fill the gap for what is our biggest meeting of the season without doubt.”

Tapes-up at Ashfield Stadium on Tuesday night is at 7.30pm. Regular updates will be available across social media via @OxfordSpeedway or Cheetahs fans can watch the meeting live via the British Speedway Network.

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

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