Eastbourne Eagles boss Bob Dugard has revealed why tonight’s home clash with Lakeside could be one of the biggest tests of the season.

The cross-Thames rivals meet at Arlington (7.30pm) for their first Elite League derby of the year after last night’s meeting at Thurrock was rained off.

Lakeside have already knocked Eagles out of the KO Cup and are second in the table with the Sussex side just one place below them.

Dugard is confident his side can be title challengers but concedes tonight’s meeting will give him a better idea of their prospects.

The Eastbourne promoter said: “This meeting could be key to our season.

“When we met them here in the KO Cup they had already had a big win at home and they didn’t need to really turn the pressure up in the second leg.

“They will be out for serious points this time and it will be a test for us to withstand that.”

Lakeside have been linked with a call-up for Tomasz Jedrzejak in place of the injured Joonas Kylmakorpi but boss Jon Cook last night said he would run rider-replacement for the Finn, whose absence is not expected to be long term.

Eagles are at full strength as they bid for a fifth home win out of five so far this season.

Reserve Ricky Kling, who is riding for Eagles on loan from Lakeside, will be as keen as anyone to post a big score.

Kling’s form has been hit and miss in early season and wheels are in motion to bring in Russian champion Denis Gizatullin, who would be a ready-made replacement.

Gizatullin takes an Englsh test in Moscow on Tuesday as part of his immigration application.

If he passes, he could be available in three weeks and, while his four-point average means he could replace any current Eagle, Kling’s form leaves him most at risk.

It did not escape Dugard that Gizatullin scored 11+2 (5) for Rybnik in the Polish second tier last Sunday, in only his second meeting of the season, while team mate Kling managed just 6+1 (5).

Meanwhile the delayed arbitration hearing to decide a transfer fee for Edward Kennett has been set for Wednesday morning.

Kennett, now with Coventry, went into the season with an average of 7.11, excluding bonus points. That has rocketed to 9.17 already this season, which will be music to Dugard’s ears as he looks to secure a fee of £30,000 or more.

Coventry beat ailing Poole 50-43 at Brandon last night to replace Lakeside on top of the table.

Eagles: Watt, Norris, Bridger, Woodward, Dryml, Kling, Gustafsson.

Lakeside: Shields, Nieminen, Davidsson, Kylmakorpi r/r, Richardson, Mills, Robson.