Eastbourne Eagles are hoping Grand Prix star Leigh Adams can help them towards an overdue Elite League bonus point tonight.

But, as the vastly experienced Aussie booked in for a guest appearance at Arena-Essex (7.45), Eagles boss Jon Cook warned: "He can't win us this match on his own."

Adams, the 35-year-old Swindon Robins heat leader from Victoria, rides in place of Nicki Pedersen, who is taking the week off to rest the lower arms which have troubled him all season.

Joe Screen guests at Swindon tomorrow and Pedersen returns for the eagerly-awaited Knockout Cup quarter-final first leg at home to Wolverhampton on Saturday.

Adams is currently third in the Elite League averages behind only Jason Crump and Hans Andersen, his figure of 10.21 including a 15-point maximum for the Robins at Arlington.

He is a high quality stand-in for Pedersen and Cook insisted: "Just having him can probably clinch us the bonus point but not the win on the night.

"We've never been able to book him for us in the past and having him lessens the blow of losing Nicki.

"The Arena-Essex track is incredibly slick which gives them a big home advantage. It is only their injuries which have cost them matches recently."

Arena's five-man team were thumped 62-32 at Arlington as three Eagles remained unbeaten by opponents so a second bonus point of the year looks to be Eastbourne's for the taking.

Whether they add a second away win could depend on late fitness tests for home riders Henning Bager (shoulder) and Paul Hurry (ribs).

Hurry is averaging 6.56 from the reserve berth, an area Cook believes will be crucial.

He added: "Arguably Lewis Bridger and Cameron Woodward will be our most important riders.

"It will be an interesting meeting for them. If Paul Hurry rides and is fit it will make a hell of a difference."

Eagles won 47-43 on their last league visit to Essex last September, clinching their play-off place in the process as guest star Crump scored 17 (6).

Cook asked Crump to ride for him at Swindon this week but was turned down.

Barring mishaps tonight, Adams will spearhead the Robins' challenge but they are missing Seb Ulamek, Renat Gafurov and Adrian Miedzinski.

Having lost 55-41 in the corresponding home fixture, Eagles are in the bizzare position of having a better chance of taking the win than the bonus point.

Cook has resisted the temptation to operate rider-replacement for Pedersen, which would have given four of his men extra practice around Swindon's monster 363-metre track.

Arena-Essex (probable): Max, Bager, Lanham, Johnston, Kylmakorpi, Hurry, Werner.

Eagles: Norris, Kennett, Barker, Shields, Adams, Woodward, Bridger.