CRADLEY team boss Will Pottinger insists all the pressure is on Birmingham after being picked for a derby date in the National League play-offs.

As table toppers, the Brummies had their choice of opponents and opted for the fourth-placed Heathens who made certain of their spot with a 53-37 victory over Kent on Monday.

The two-legged showdown sees the champions of the past three seasons go head-to-head for the right to take on Kent or Eastbourne for the 2016 crown.

Pottinger said: "Birmingham's choice came as no real shock. If I was a betting man, I'd have probably put my house on them choosing us!

"They have had the better of us on two occasions this year but we've come a long way, particularly since our 20-point defeat at their place back in April.

"Whatever has gone on earlier in the year and the points both clubs have scored now becomes totally irrelevant. It all comes down to who performs best over 30 heats of speedway.

"The majority of the pressure is on Birmingham. They're the ones who've only lost one meeting all season and they don't want to throw away a year of hard work away over two meetings.

"We've got nothing to lose at all."

The Heathens will travel to Perry Barr on Wednesday, September 28 before hosting the second leg at Monmore on Monday, October 10.

Meanwhile, the success against Kent marked a fine spell for Max Clegg who racked up 14 points on the back of a dream double in his own right.

Clegg, 19, won the National League Riders’ Championship at Leicester hot on the heels of his British Under-19 title glory at Birmingham.