Miracle man Adam Shields is ready to return to the Arlington track, just 40 days after suffering potentially season-ending hip and pelvis injuries.

The Eastbourne Eagles star could even feature in tonight's Elite League clash at home to Reading Bulldogs, depending on how a practice at the East Sussex track goes earlier in the day.

Shields, who suffered a broken hip, damaged pelvis and associated injuries in a smash in Poland at Easter, was last night told he was making good progress by his specialist in Poole.

The same specialist advised he rest for the remainder of the season to make a 100 per cent recovery.

But Shields is ready to see how he feels on a bike today, have a spin at Arlington and, if all goes well, make himself available for the evening's match.

If he does not make it, an appearance in the next home meeting, against Swindon a week on Monday, would appear probable.

Shields is already booked for the Welsh Open at Newport a week tomorrow and has made a remarkable recovery.

He said: "I had another X-ray yesterday and it has been coming along as well as we had hoped.

"I'm still not 100 per cent but I've got to weigh up whether I want to wait to be 100 per cent.

"Weather permitting, I'll get a practice on the track and if I feel confident there is a good chance I might be in the line-up.

"It's a long shot but I feel as if I could ride a bike at the moment.

"If I was to play everything safe I wouldn't ride yet.

"But if I was the sort of person who played safe I wouldn't be a speedway rider in the first place."

Shields has not been on a bike since careering into a wooden fence after his smash in a meeting for Lublin.

He has been walking, doing work at home and praying for rain whenever Eagles have a match scheduled.

Rain is the only threat to him practising this afternoon though, having checked the forecast, Eagles have no fears that the match itself will be affected by bad weather.

Shields added: "I'll see how I feel on the bike. It's difficult to know what position my body likes to be in.

"I can pick stuff up and walk down the back yard and feel fine and then just sit down and cross my feet over and be in agony.

"After a couple of good practice sessions, though, I'm sure I will be up to speed."

Eagles also have a meeting at Coventry on Monday which could figure in Shields' plans.

His main fear will be declaring himself fit for an Eagles comeback, then struggling to complete the meeting and placing a heavy burden on young reserves Lewis Bridger and Cameron Woodward.

The Welsh Open is an individual event, making it key in his rehabilitation programme.

He said: "That's purely a day for me to see how I'm going. I won't have pressure on me not to let my team down.

"It doesn't matter if I don't score a single point."

Eagles promoter Jon Cook offered a cautious welcome to news that Shields will be back at the track today.

Cook is desperate to reconvene his full strength team after some demoralising defeats away and uncomfortably close meetings at home.

But he said: "I'm not going to get too excited at the moment.

"My emotions are total delight he is so close to making a return but also caution because we need to make sure he is fit enough.

"If Adam is able to practise and it goes well we will not rule out using him in the meeting."

Nicki Pedersen has declared himself fully fit for a return after missing three days with an arm problem.

And skipper Dean Barker will ride as he continues to recover from the virus which wiped out almost any contribution to the last two away fixtures.

Cook said: "There is no question of Dean missing races tonight. He's a true professional. I will expect four second places from him."