NICKI Pedersen's move to Eastbourne could benefit Ipswich Evening Star Witches.The Dane's impending arrival at Arlington from Oxford means that one of the Eagles' top riders has to be shipped out.

By Elvin King

NICKI Pedersen's move to Eastbourne could benefit Ipswich Evening Star Witches.

The Dane's impending arrival at Arlington from Oxford means that one of the Eagles' top riders has to be shipped out.

So former British champion Joe Screen – or David Norris or Dean Barker – could be on his way to Foxhall.

Talks are believed to have already taken place between the struggling Witches and an Eastbourne side still looking for a play-off place.

Former world champion Mark Loram took part in a training session at Arlington yesterday and much will depend on whether he

shows any ill-effects. The Stowmarket-based rider broke his arm earlier this season, but if he proves his fitness he is expected to return for the Eagles' next match next week.

And if so, Eastbourne will have to release one of their other top three to allow Pedersen into the team.

Meanwhile, Ipswich ride at Wolverhampton in the Elite League tonight with Paul Hurry disgruntled at being down in a reserve berth.

It is a case of 'I am a reserve get me out of here' for the rider who has dropped down from heat leader after a disappointing season in a Witches race jacket.

"I want to get out of the doldrums as soon as possible," said Hurry.

"I don't want the easier rides a reserve berth might bring. I want harder rides.

"But I have got to start somewhere as I work to regain my true form."

Hurry suffered a hip injury in heat 11 of Saturday's Championship of Great Britain when Paul Fry moved over from the inside gate and forced Dean Barker to fall under Hurry's wheel.

Both riders took a nasty tumble and Hurry needed some time to return to his feet.

"I should have pulled out of the meeting," said Hurry. "My hip was playing up and I could not steer properly.

"But I will be at Wolves tonight unless there is a late reaction – to start the first stage of my revitalisation programme."

Chris Slabon starts his first match at heat leader with Daniel Nermark back in the team proper after one match at reserve.

Wolves have also juggled their side around, with David Howe taking over from Sam Ermolenko as third heat leader.

The current league champions have only dropped one point on their tight Monmore Green track this season, but on their travels they have only won once – against the Witches, when the Witches signing of Freddie Eriksson was delayed!

Ipswich lost by eight points in the corresponding A fixture at Monmore Green and home team manager Peter Adams said: "Ipswich's league position is poor, but we cannot underestimate them. We will be treating them with great respect."

Tonight's line-ups

Wolves: M Max, S Ermolenko, D Howe, A Skornicki, P Karlsson, C Neath, J Grieves.

Ipswich: J Hampel, F Eriksson, C Slabon, D Nermark, S Nicholls, D Bird, P Hurry.

Sky Sports Elite League

Current table

P W D L BP Pts

Poole 21 15 1 5 8 39

Peterborough 22 13 0 9 5 31

Coventry 18 13 0 5 4 30

Eastbourne 18 9 1 8 4 23

Wolves 18 9 1 8 4 23

Oxford 18 7 0 11 3 17

Ipswich 17 4 0 13 0 8

Belle Vue 16 2 1 13 0 5