The Ipswich ‘Tru7 Group’ Witches host the first leg of their ROWE Motor Oil Premiership play-off semi-final against Leicester at Foxhall tonight (7.45pm).

The Witches led the league campaign for the majority of the year, despite losing Jason Doyle for the season due to an injury suffered in May.

It has been a season plagued by injuries though, with every rider missing at least one meeting. That finally took its toll in August when Emil Sayfutdinov faced a period on the sidelines after a crash at Sheffield.

A depleted Ipswich side went on and lost their next seven fixtures, finishing fourth in the league and being defeated in the Knockout Cup Final by Sheffield.

Despite everything thrown at them, Ritchie Hawkins’ side now embark on the play-offs where they face second-placed Leicester over two legs.

The hosts remain without Doyle and Sayfutdinov, while Jordan Jenkins has now joined them on the treatment table after suffering a hand injury last Wednesday in a fall whilst riding for his Championship side. Tom Brennan guests again for Sayfutdinov, whilst Grand Prix rider Jan Kvěch takes up the number one position. Ashton Boughen has been booked to cover Jenkins at reserve.

The Suffolk side have raced the Lions three times at Foxhall this season winning twice with scores of 47-43 and 60-30 and losing 36-54 last month. Ipswich showed a battling display last Thursday as they ended their losing streak with a draw against Sheffield in the KO Cup Finla second leg and enter the play-offs with fresh hope of making another play-off final.

Team manager Ritchie Hawkins said: “These are the meetings you race all year to be a part of. Unfortunately, we go into it with a team full of guests.

"We have Tom back; we have spoken a lot about him in recent weeks and Jan will come in as a guest for Emil. Emil is not fit enough to ride for us next week which is a massive loss to us. Jan did very well on his one visit here and has adapted well to British Speedway since coming over. We now need to cover Jordan and Ashton is coming in. He was keen to do the meeting and has won races at Ipswich this season and is someone we used last year. It will be good to see the progress he has made and is someone capable of winning races at Foxhall.

“Jordan has a hand injury, and they think it is ligament damage, but the early signs are there are no breaks. The ligament damage can be worse in all honesty, but further investigations are needed. Having seen his hand, I can’t see him being back in the next couple of weeks.

“Leicester are a team we have had varying results against this season. We have had quite a few victories against them over the last few years, but we have said all season they are a very good team on paper, and they have come into form at the right time. We feel after Thursday’s performance and having a full one to seven out that we have a renewed confidence, and we are going to go out and fight every step of the way to make the play-off final.”

Leicester have hit form at the right time in 2024 and enter the play-offs as many people’s favourites for the title. After a slow start to the campaign, the Lions have rocketed into the top four with superb run of form which included 10 wins in their last 12 fixtures. The visitors will be full of confidence coming to Foxhall after their big win last month against the Witches.

The away side are running rider replacement for Ryan Douglas, who is in hospital with an infected burn on his left arm. Lewi Kerr guests for Craig Cook, who dislocated his left shoulder last Thursday night.

IPSWICH: 1. Jan Kvěch (G) 9.36 2. Adam Ellis 5.61 3. Keynan Rew 5.43 4. Tom Brennan (G) 9.12 5. Danny King © 6.48 6. Ashton Boughen (G) 3.74 7. Dan Thompson (RS). Team Manager: Ritchie Hawkins

LEICESTER: 1. Max Fricke 8.70 © 2. Richard Lawson 7.21 3. Sam Masters 7.17 4. Luke Becker 6.17 5. R/R for Ryan Douglas 7.59 6. Lewi Kerr (G) 5.03 7. Sam Hagon (RS). Team Manager: Stewart Dickson