Simon Gustafsson admits it will be a proud moment when he captains his country in a world final.

But he will spare a thought for his Eastbourne Eagles colleagues as they race the meeting which could ease them towards safety.

Gustafsson skippers Sweden in the World Team Cup final for under-21s in Gorzow, Poland, this weekend.

That commitment rules him out of Eagles’ re-arranged trip to Lakeside on Friday. Any sort of reward in Essex will edge Eastbourne closer to Elite League survival after their encouraging 45-45 draw at Coventry on Monday.

Gustafsson said: “We have to report for bike examinations at 8am on Saturday and there is no really early flight to get me there.

“Of course I want to ride for Eastbourne in a meeting we need to win but the World Team Cup is a big meeting.

“We finished third last year and we want to do better.”

Gustafsson has impressed in the main body of the Eagles side after his recent move from reserve.

He scored paid-12 at Coventry and said: “I feel like I’m back to my form from the start of the season.

“I got a good score and set the fastest time of the night. It’s just a shame we couldn’t beat Chris Harris in heat 15 to win the meeting but it’s hard. He’s a GP rider.”

Davey Watt now returns to No. 1 for Eagles and Lukas Dryml will partner him at Lakeside.

Daniel Nermark returned to Sweden yesterday nursing a sore back and ribs after his spill at Coventry but could feature on Friday.