Scott Nicholls admits he will not mind too much if the Coventry fans give him stick.

But, after leading the Bees to a treble last season and having to leave against his will, the new Eastbourne Eagles star would love to get a warm reception when he goes back to the Midlands track tonight.

Coventry open their title defence with a home meeting against Eastbourne, who enjoyed a solid win in the very first Elite League meeting of the season at home to Peterborough.

Sky Sports like the look of the clash at Brandon so much they have selected it as their first live fixture of 2008.

Not that Nicholls' partner Sophie Blake will be asking the questions in the pits.

Sophie has given up her Sky role but will be at the meeting along with the couple's young daughter Maya.

Nicholls had to leave Coventry in the winter when the points limit was reduced but makes no secret of his admiration for the way the champions do things.

He said: "I popped in there over the winter and I get on well with people like (promoter) Colin Pratt and (former owner) Avtar Sandhu.

"I always got support and encouragement. They were good with the younger riders. They showed patience with them and gave them help and advice.

"That can help and hopefully we do the same at Eastbourne.

"Coventry are very professional in the way they do things. If a job is worth doing it's worth doing properly.

"Every meeting will be tough this season.

"I'm looking forward to Coventry. They have started the season pretty well.

"They are a strong team but I remember that when Eastbourne used to go to Coventry they would always have riders who would go well there.

"Everybody is getting fired up for this one.

"It's just another meeting for me. It's against my old club and I've got some good memories from racing there.

"Yes, I suppose people will be looking at how I get on but I'll just be trying to win every race."

He added: "I would like to think I would get a good reception but if I don't I'll take it that they are disappointed I'm not riding for them."

Nicholls has shown encouraging signs of settling in nicely at his new home in East Sussex.

He has had to overcome heat-one defeats in all home meetings to date but he finished the Swindon match in style with a last-race defeat of the otherwise unbeaten Leigh Adams.

Against Poole on Good Friday, he went unbeaten in his last four rides, the highlight being a pass of Bjarne Pedersen off bend four in heat 13.

He said: "I've enjoyed it at Eastbourne so far. I've known the people here for a number of years and it's a very family orientated set-up.

"Eastbourne is a good racing track. It's probably the first time I've really had home track advantage in my whole career."

Eagles fans just hope Nicholls remembers enough about his previous home circuit to help them enjoy a great night.