Nicki Pedersen's manager today admitted the Eastbourne Eagles top scorer could face another short injury lay-off later this season.

But the star Dane is ready to face Wolverhampton tomorrow in one of Arlington's biggest meetings of the season.

Wolves head south for the first leg of a Knockout Cup quarter-final between two teams who traditionally enjoy close matches. The return is at Monmore Green on Monday.

The match has special significance for Pedersen, who rides for Eagles on loan from Wolverhampton.

He missed midweek trips to Arena-Essex and Swindon as he underwent further treatment on his troublesome wrists and lower arms.

Pedersen's team are not blaming the wrists for his failure to reach the semi-finals of the Danish Grand Prix last Saturday.

But they admit their rider has not made a full recovery from surgery in April which required 30 stitches in each arm.

His manager Helge Pedersen, no relation, said: "Nicki needs treatment due to the operation he had.

"It is not as it should be but he is getting better. He just needed a couple of days of intense treatment.

"Of course it's not a good time to have an operation, during the season, but he has to do it and it could have been worse.

"He is not yet up to 100 per cent but we will see how it goes and maybe he will need another short break later in the season."

Pedersen followed his six points from five races at Parken with a 15-point maximum in the Polish Ekstraliga on Sunday. He also rode in Sweden on Tuesday.

Helge Pedersen added: "There are no excuses for last Saturday. We weren't good enough.

"We were struggling with the set-up and didn't know what to do from the start. It wasn't because of the arms."

Pedersen had 12 points from 12 in his latest Arlington outing, against undermanned Arena-Essex, but has conceded maximums to Hans Andersen and Jason Crump at the Sussex track in recent weeks.

He could face another Arlington specialist in Peter Karlsson if the Wolves No. 1 recovers from injury.

Asked if he felt Pedersen had been under-performing for the team, Eagles promoter Jon Cook replied: "I would say Nicki has not been firing on all cylinders for himself since the operation.

"He has given his very best in every race, whether it be in the leagues or in the Grands Prix. But he has looked short of having the fitness he would want."

The two cup meetings will have special significance for Pedersen, even though he has not ridden for Wolves since 2000.

He left Wolves under a cloud and thrives on the hostile reception he invariably receives in the West Midlands.

Bizarrely, given his long exile, Pedersen will be eligible for a testimonial from Wolves in two years, hence his unwillingness to sever ties with the club.

Even more bizarrely, that testimonial would be staged at Arlington if he was still on loan to Eastbourne.

Pedersen could command a fee of up to £30,000 on the transfer market, of which he would receive a percentage.

But that is dwarfed by the possible earnings from a testimonial season, which could rise up to £25,000 tax-free.

Eagles currently pay Wolverhampton £5,000 a year for the Dane's services.

If the move ever became permanent, Cook would look for those payments to be taken into consideration when a fee was decided.

Helge Pedersen added: "It's hard to say what will happen.

"Nicki is very happy at Eastbourne but he needs to make money that he can live off for the rest of his life.

"When the season is over we will speak to Jon Cook about next year."