Eastbourne Eagles are banking on two of their former captains to bridge the gap left by skipper David Norris as they go into a make-or-break three days of the season.

Gary Havelock, who is now riding for Peterborough, will replace the injured Norris in tomorrow night's Elite League clash at Coventry, while Joe Screen, currently with Belle Vue, is Norris's replacement for Saturday's Knockout Cup battle with Ipswich.

The Sussex side need to beat bottom-placed Coventry in their final league match to keep up their chances of finishing in third place in the table, which would mean a home tie when the play-offs begin, and they go into the cup quarter-final at Arlington Stadium trailing Ipswich by nine points from the first leg.

Both riders have helped out Eastbourne on previous occasions this season. Havelock starred with 12 points in the win at Poole in June, and Screen top scored when Eagles beat Arena Essex at Arlington last month.

Norris sustained a double fracture of his right leg when he crashed through the fence on to the stockcar track during Monday night's draw with Swindon.

Eagles have also brought in Sebastian Tresarrieu and Davey Watt for the Coventry trip in place of Steen Jensen, who suffered head injuries when he crashed on Monday, and Adrian Miedzinski.