Two years ago, Edinburgh went to Shawfield to face Glasgow Tigers in their final Premier League Cup Northern Group qualifier. Monarchs needed to win or to draw to make the Semi-Finals of the Cup. Otherwise Sheffield would take the Semi-Final spot. Edinburgh, inspired by Robert Eriksson, Kenny McKinna, and Peter Carr swept aside Tigers by 56 points to 34. They then went on to beat Reading in the Semi-Final and Oxford in the Final.
With the Premier League Cup now using a straight knockout format, the Premier National Trophy is to an extent the the successor tournament. Now Monarchs have to go to Ashfield to take on Glasgow Tigers needing a win or a draw to go through to the Semi-Final. As fate would have things, Sheffield will progress if Monarchs lose to Glasgow. If Edinburgh qualify, they will join Newcastle, Swindon and either Newport or Arena Essex in the Semi-Final of the Premier National Trophy.
Glasgow have changed their line-up with Agentinian Emalinio Sanchez who has an Italian mother and rides on a German licence coiming in on an 8.00 average. He will replace a reserve but come in at heat leader allowing Will Beveridge to drop to second string and Brian Turner to go to reserve. Carl Stonehewer will guest for Tigers in place of the injury victim Paul Bentley.
This meeting will be the last at number 2 for Blair Scott, who drops to reserve next month with Stewart McDonald moving up into the team. Blair can consider himself rather unlucky having a Green Sheet Average of 5.50. That is not far short of that required to make a heat leader spot in some teams! Blair commented in the Edinburgh Evening News:
"It will mean some easier rides. But I don't learn anything from easy races. Riding No. 2 has been very demanding especially for me as I was at reserve all last season. I don't want to use it as an excuse, but it has been very difficult".
Some may predict that Stewart McDonald moving up from reserve will weaken Monarchs. However, many said the same after Ross Brady moved out of reserve and McDonald stepped down. Expect Blair to really start scoring points from reserve with easier rides and more rides.
The meeting with Glasgow will has special significance for Monarchs' other second string Ross Brady. It will be his first derby match against Tigers. Brady was concerned about making the meeting after suffering from a bout of 'flu earlier in the week:
"I'm feeling a lot better and stronger now, And I'm really looking forward to the meeting".
Brady attributes the current sense of conviction of the Monarchs to a strong team spirit:
"We all get along so well and everyone has a bit of a laugh. But we are serious when it counts. When we lost that opening 5-1 at Newcastle, we all got together and said we'd need to get going and we did. It helps to be involved in three or four different competitions with genuine chances of progressing further. I think this explains why we are all so keyed up."
Brady was a revelation at reserve earlier in the season and has found things to be tougher at number 4.
"It has been a little more difficult and I'm not getting the same number of rides either. My new role has taken a bit getting used to but I'm getting better. And Kevin and I are beginning to click together. Switching partners can be hard because you know the way the other guy rides. And you can model yourself to go outside or inside. But Kevin is a really easy guy to ride with and has helped me tremendously."
While the track of Glasgow's Saracen Park Stadium has had a bit of flack recently following the Paul Bentley and Marc Norris accident, Ross was impressed when he saw the track two weeks ago.
"It looked good apart from all the dust. Although it's smallish it rides big. I know the've had problems but if Alan has been assisting them then the surface will be fantastic in time for our visit."
Brady remains confident of a win:
"I know it's my first derby. But I treat every match the same and try to do my best. Edinburgh are certainly favourites to win but stranger things have happened before. But we need the win and I think we'll get it."