More Sunday meetings and a new start time will feature in Leicester Lions' fixture schedule for the 2012 season.

The club has opted to increase Sunday meetings at Beaumont Park to ensure there are minimal clashes with the world under-21 individual and team competitions, where their No.1 rider, Lasse Bjerre, is expected to be a leading challenger.

Lions have also decided to bring forward starting times on Sundays to 6pm, in the hope of attracting more families with young children. This would also help fans travelling from outside the Leicestershire area.

Lions roar into action on Friday, March 16 with a warm-up match against Scunthorpe Scorpions at the Eddie Wright Raceway.

Just 24 hours later, they open their home programme with the Magnus Karlsson testimonial meeting.

A huge crowd is expected, with Nicki Pedersen, the three-time world champion, and Elite League star, Freddie Lindgren, already confirmed as starters.

A second warm-up match with Scunthorpe follows at Beaumont Park on Sunday, March 25, before they take on the Ipswich Witches at home for their first experience of the League Cup. Lions are in the southern section of this new competition along with Plymouth, Newport, Somerset, Rye House and Ipswich.

The team that finishes top of the group, after meeting each other once home and away, will go forward to a grand final where they will face the winners of the northern section.

Lions launch their Premier League campaign with a home meeting against Redcar on the first Saturday in May and travel to Glasgow the day after. There is a new format to the league this season with the top six qualifying for the play-offs.

They will be split into two groups, and take on each other home and away, with the winners meeting in October's grand final to decide the destination of the championship.

Teams who finish seventh down to 12th will compete in a different competition run on the same lines.

In the Premier League Knock-out Cup, Lions have been drawn against Newport, the current holders, and the winners of this tie meet either Scunthorpe or Workington in the next round.

The Lions' preview show will take place at Beaumont Park on Saturday, March 24, where fans can meet the riders and watch them going through their paces.

Gates open at 2pm and entry is free.

Lions' fixtures for 2012

MARCH

Fri 16, Scunthorpe (Chall) A

Sat 17, Magnus Karlsson Testm’l H

Sun 25, Scunthorpe (Chall) H

Fri 30, Newport (LC) A

Sat 31, Ipswich (LC) H

APRIL

Fri 6, Ipswich (LC) A

Sat 7, Rye House (LC) H

Mon 9, Rye House (LC) A

Fri 13, Plymouth (LC) A

Sat 14, Newport (LC) H

Sat 21, Somerset (LC) H

Sun 29, Plymouth (LC) H

MAY

Fri 4, Somerset (LC) A

Sat 5, Redcar (PL) H

Sun 6, Glasgow (PL) A

Sat 12, Scunthorpe (PL) H

Fri 18, Edinburgh (PL) A

Sun 20, Plymouth (PL) H

Fri 25, Newport (PL KOC) A

Sat 26, Newport (PL KOC) H

JUNE

Sun 3, Somerset (PL) H

Fri 8, Plymouth (PL) A

Sat 9, Newcastle (PL) H

Sat 16, Reserved H

Sun 17, Newcastle (PL) A

Sat 23, Reserved (PL KOC) H

Sat 30, Sheffield (PL) H

JULY

Thur 5, Redcar (PL) A

Sun 8, Ipswich (PL) H

Fri 13, Newport (PL) A

Sat 14, Glasgow (PL) H

Sun 22, Newport (PL) H

Thur 26, Sheffield (PL) A

Fri 27, Somerset (PL) A

Sat 28, Berwick (PL) H

AUGUST

Thur 2, Ipswich (PL) A

Sun 5, Edinburgh (PL) H

Fri 10, Scunthorpe (PL) A

Sat 11, Rye House (PL) H

Sat 18, Berwick (PL) A

Sun 19, Reserved H

Sun 26, Reserved H

Mon 27, Rye House (PL) A

SEPTEMBER

Sat 1, Workington (PL) A

Sun 2, Workington (PL) H

Sun 16 Play-offs

Sat 22 Play-offs

OCTOBER

Sat 6 Play-off final

Fixtures subject to change

KEY: Chall - Challenge; LC – League Cup; PL – Premier League; PL KOC – Prem League KO Cup