World champion Mark Loram is set to ride for Eastbourne Eagles at Arlington Stadium tomorrow night.

Loram will be in the hot seat as the Sussex squad take on Ipswich in the Elite League.

The capture of Loram, Britain's first world champion of the Grand Prix era, is a major coup for Eastbourne boss Jon Cook, who has also booked another big name, former world No.1 Billy Hamill, for the visit to Oxford tonight.

Cook had to move fast when skipper Martin Dugard was ruled out with a severe viral infection. Said Cook: "The bookings of Mark Loram and Billy Hamill show we mean business."

Loram, one of the most spectacular riders in the sport, was the subject of a big-money move from Poole to Peterborough during the winter.

The prospect of Loram teaming up with another of speedway's thrill-makers, Joe Screen, should guarantee a big crowd as Eagles chase their first home league win of the season.

The Elite champions will also want revenge for a 49-29 drubbing at Ipswich last week when Chris Louis, Scott Nicholls and Craig Boyce ran riot for the Witches.

Said Cook: "We threw away what should have been a secure victory against Oxford last Saturday, and with the thrashing at Ipswich it wasn't the start we would have wanted.

"Oxford away tonight and then Ipswich at home are key matches now. If we don't get anything from those, then the alarm bells will be ringing."

Cook was encouraged by the display at King's Lynn, where Screen ran up 16 points and Brent Werner starred at reserve, but there will be concerns over Swedes Joonas Kylmakorpi and Marcus Andersson, who managed one point between them.

Ipswich have been the most successful team to come to Arlington in recent years and are capable of exploiting any weaknesses in the Eastbourne outfit.

Added Cook: "It's a must win match for us. Everyone in the team has shown glimpses of what they can do but only in fits and starts. We have got to get everyone gelling together.

"I still think we have the makings of an exciting team which is going to win matches, but we will know a lot more about where we are going this season after this weekend."

Dugard, who also missed the Premiership Trophy defeat at King's Lynn on Wednesday, is hoping to return next week when Eagles have three matches in three days, including a TV showdown with Poole at Eastbourne.

Away from the track, he works in the family's machine tools business, and stadium owner Bob Dugard, Martin's father, explained: "Martin has picked up infection which has swept through the company. Most of the people who have had it have been off work for a week, some for two weeks."