Nicki back to boost Eagles

The return of Nicki Pedersen could prove the key following his absence last week due to the Scandinavian Grand Prix.

For Poole Bjarne Pedersen has proved a relentless points-scoring machine around the Sussex circuit and his respective duels with his Danish namesake are becoming a thing of legend.

The Pirates's Pedersen is sure to receive solid support from Krzysztof Kasprzak and Craig Boyce, and with former Eagle Davey Watt expected to join the party (as a guest replacement for the suspended Grzegorz Walasek) the Eagles are sure of a tough night.

One notable Poole absentee is Swedish hotshot Antonio Lindback, who has been signed off from duty with the Dorset outfit, reportedly suffering with illness, for much of the last fortnight.

Eastbourne suffer from the non-availability of 19-year old Edward Kennett, who will be riding for his Premier League team the Rye House Rockets - who have first call on his services - in the National Fours Finals at Workington's Derwent Park stadium.

To cover Kennett's absence, 16-year old rookie Lewis Bridger is again promoted into the main body of the team and he will ride in the No.2 berth alongside Adam Shields.

It means that skipper Dean Barker will vacate that slot and switch to Kennett's usual No.3 position at the side of David Norris.

Eagles: 1 Adam Shields, 2 Lewis Bridger, 3 Dean Barker, 4 David Norris, 5 Nicki Pedersen, 6 Cameron Woodward, 7 A.N.Other.

Pirates: 1 Bjarne Pedersen, 2 Craig Boyce, 3 Krzysztof Kasprzak, 4 Davey Watt (guest for Grzegorz Walasek), 5 rider replacement for Antonio Lindback, 6 Jonas Davidsson, 7 Matthew Wethers.