An addendum to my previous comment, this Youtube video suggests you might get away with it Sam! Probably requires the right heatgun (maybe not a hairdryer!) And patience...

https://youtu.be/LiFsHX98yiA

Hi Sam, it looks like no one has replied - my answer would be that the keyboard will be destroyed. I had to remove the keyboard to replace the battery, and the guide on IFixit for that implied that the risk of removing the keyboard meant destroying it. So I accepted that risk, and now I am trying to source the [right] replacement keyboard. I was sent a Spanish language keyboard, which really isn't right for me and have said that to the seller and asked for the English version, but sadly they were out of stock. If you have found one please let me know!

Make a plan to replace the keyboard/second screen after installing a replacement battery.

basically by this technique the screen WILL be cracked (as the images here show, and as I was actually expecting sadly). I wonder if there is a safer technique to remove the screen, even though it is too late for me now?

there was a screw in this position in my tablet, but not connected to the ribbon in anyway. Also, it was an extremely soft screw, just ground away under the appropriate screwdriver!! so lucky it didn't need to be removed!

Maybe it depends on the particular placement of the battery, but I can't see the need for this step unless the black strips have been very poorly placed.