Jon Cook reckons Eastbourne Eagles' mid-season break could not be coming at a better time.

Eagles last rode in the battling 54-41 defeat at Reading on Monday and do not return to the track until a week on Sunday, when Oxford visit Arlington (3.30).

Nicki Pedersen captains Denmark in the World Team Cup in the interim but no other Eagles are likely to be involved in the event.

That allows Lewis Bridger (ribs) and David Norris (arm) to rest injuries and the whole team to reflect on a decent run which has given them an outside hope of a play-off spot and a great chance of Knockout Cup glory.

Cook said: "Although we lost on Monday, I think we go into the break in good heart.

"If you look at the scoring, we would have won the second half of the meeting even without the double points from tactical rides. Some of the action we produced, particularly the overtaking out wide by Edward (Kennett), Cameron (Woodward) and Lewis was outstanding. I was really pleased."

Eagles have also been lifted by news that Adam Shields is due back from injury some time next month.

Cook added: "Because of that great news as well, I believe the break has come at a good time for us. We've ended this period of the season on a real high, especially with the fantastic result against Reading last Saturday.

"Now we can recharge. The lads with injuries can sort themselves out, Cameron and his dad are going to support Australia in the World Cup and I think Edward is still hoping to get called up by Team GB for the Reading rounds after the way he rode there on Monday."

Pedersen suffered headaches and neck pains after crashing in heat 15 at Reading but has until Tuesday to recover for the Danes' first World Cup meeting in Sweden.

The Dane sat out Tuesday's Elitserien outing for his Swedish club Bajen (Stockholm), who used rider-replacement for the trip to VMS Elit and crashed 71-25.

Eagles have been drawn against Coventry in the semi-finals of the Knockout Cup.

Poole and Belle Vue, who clash in the other semi, met in the Elite League last night and Jason Crump's maximum 18 points from five rides could not prevent a 50-44 Pirates home win.

Wolves' 51-41 success at Oxford gave them a bonus point while Seb Ulamek and the unbeaten Leigh Adams shared a last-heat 5-1 which saw Swindon win 46-43 in a thriller at Arena-Essex.