Edinburgh Monarchs aim to bounce back from only accumulating 39 points at Redcar Bears in the first-leg of their opening Knockout Cup tie.
However, the squad believe they have the capability to overturn the 12-point deficit when the sides meet at Armadale on Friday (tapes-up 7.30pm) according to club bosses.
Bears are a solid side with strength through to reserve but their No 1, Charles Wright, was injured in the club’s first match of the season.
He has been temporalily replaced by Nicolai Klindt. If he’s in the mood, he is a very fast man but he isn’t always in the mood!
Alex Harkess, Monarchs’ team manager, said: “The first-leg score should have been a lot closer than it was.
“Redcar’s strength is that they are solid and their reserves will do something, but, in the end, we’ve got to hope that ours also do something. Our top five should match theirs and more.”
Monarchs have been Knockout Cup winners in 1981, 1997, 1999 and 2014 and they were beaten finalists in 1961, 1994, 2009, 2010, 2015 and 2021. Harkess added: “It’s not an impossible situation and it’s up to us to do it.”
Friday’s match will be live streamed on www.edinburghmonarchs.co.uk.
ROSS ECO TECHNOLOGIES MONARCHS: Dan Thompson, Jonatan Grahn, Justin Sedgmen, Paco Castagna (c), Kye Thomson, Mitch Cluff, Jordy Loftus.
AGILIA BEARS: Nicolai Klindt, Ace Pijper, Jordan Jenkins, Jake Allen, Jason Edwards (c), Jake Mulford, Jody Scott.
Following the senior match, the West Lothian Wildcats will take on the Redcar Cubs in the Northern Junior League. The Wildcats have had one win and one loss so far.
SMILING THROUGH: Kye Thomson could have a key role for Monarchs against Redcar. Picture courtesy of Edinburgh Monarchs
