Eastbourne Eagles take a six-point lead into tonight's British League Cup decider at Poole.

The Sussex squad will track an unchanged team for the second leg of the final, which means there is no place for former world champion Mark Loram.

Eagles, who had pencilled in Loram for the return match, have opted instead to go with the same seven riders who won the first instalment 48-42 at Arlington.

Eastbourne boss Jon Cook said: "It was a difficult call, but we think the team we are taking to Poole has the best chance of winning the cup."

Eagles would have had to drop either David Norris or Dean Barker, plus Ulrich Ostergaard and Neville Tatum, to accommodate Loram and bring in rookies Joel Parsons and Wayne Barrett to come within the average points limit for the competition.

Cook added: "It's really about playing the percentage game. Our top four riders should be able to run with their top men, and then it's down to our second-string riders and reserves to shine."

Poole are following a similar strategy by leaving out Leigh Adams, who scored a 15-point maximum in the first leg at Eastbourne and relying on the riders who have appeared in most of their earlier matches.

That means a return for Magnus Zetterstrom, who has been the ace in Poole's British League Cup bid but missed the Arlington clash because he was riding abroad.

The experienced Craig Boyce is also back for the Pirates, while Brazilian wonder-kid Antonio Lindback looks a potential match-winner at reserve.

Poole are aiming to complete the treble, having already won the Elite League title and the Knockout Cup, while this is Eastbourne's last chance of landing any silverware in 2003.

Cook said: "They have had an amazing year. We are the only team now standing between them and a whitewash of the trophies, so we are aiming to give it a real go."

The Pirates produced an amazing comeback at the weekend to lift the Knockout Cup at Coventry, where they were 18 points down at one stage but triumphed with 5-1 heat wins in the last two races.