Lakeside Hammers speedway team defend their Elite League Knockout Cup this Friday, September 24, at the Arena-Essex Raceway against arch rivals and 2008 Cup winners the Eastbourne Eagles.

Friday’s fixture is the second leg of the tie with the first leg due to take place 24 hours earlier, on Thursday in Sussex.

The Hammers have made changes to their riding order in an effort to regain their form after they dipped out of the play offs a fortnight ago.

They will move recent arrival Peter Ljung to the number five heat leader position for the both legs and Australian Adam Shields will move to number four, partnering ‘Rider Replacement’ at Eastbourne and Kauko Nieminen at Lakeside with the Finn switching to number two for the away leg. Hammers team manager Jon Cook said: “This is our last throw of the dice for this season and we are hoping the changes will help us contain the Eagles at their place.

“We have had a two week break to get ourselves re-motivated and the boys are determined to give it their all in the defence of the title, in which four of them rode so well to win it 11 months ago.”

Lakeside management have confirmed that there will be no replacement rider for the injured Jonas Davidsson after a delay caused by the initial refusal of the change by speedway’s controlling body, the BSPA, saw a change of heart by the rider concerned in making a cameo appearance in the UK.