Eastbourne V Hammers Preview

Lakeside have booked showman Danny Ayres for their important trip to Eastbourne on Saturday (7.30pm).

The Cradley favourite deputises for injured No.1 Zach Wajtknecht at Arlington – a track he secured a 15-point max at for the Heathens earlier this season.

The Vortex Hammers are hanging on to their play-off spot as things stand and have two away meetings left to try and secure their place.

Team boss Kelvin Tatum knows the task ahead of them against the Eagles on Saturday but is keen to see his side demonstrate their battling capabilities once again.

Said Tatum: “Eastbourne are very much like ourselves in the respect that they have a brilliant home record and a good home track advantage.

“But the riders should know how to go about their business around there and there’s no reason why we can’t get something out of the meeting.

“They’re notoriously close meetings between Lakeside and Eastbourne and there’s not usually much at all between the two teams.

“We know it’s going right down to the wire for the final couple of play-off places and we know we need to add to our tally in at least one of our upcoming away meetings.

“The riders will be giving it their all that’s for sure and hopefully Danny can come in and perform to the best of his ability.”

EASTBOURNE EAGLES:

Jake Knight, Tom Brennan, Josh Bailey, Charley Powell, Georgie Wood, Charlie Saunders, Mattie Bates.

LAKESIDE VORTEX HAMMERS:

Danny Ayres, Nick Laurence, Paul Hurry, Alfie Bowtell R/R, Ben Morley, Alex Spooner, Connor Locke.

For any Hammers fans wishing to make the trip, details of how to find Arlington Stadium can be found here

Image:  Heat 5 from the Hammers meeting against the Eagles: Danny Ayres (w), Alfie Bowtell (b), Tom Brennan (y) and Paul Hurry (r)  Credit Anticlockwise Photography