New Danish flyer Ulrich Ostergaard makes his home debut for Eastbourne Eagles at Arlington Stadium to-morrow night.

Ostergaard lines up against Oxford as Eagles put their bid to reach the Elite League play-offs on hold and get back to British League Cup action after a gap of two and a half months.

The 21-year-old, who was recommended to the club by Grand Prix star Nicki Pedersen, has made only one previous appearance for Eagles when he made a winning start in a challenge match at Rye House in June.

He finished with five points on that occasion and impres- sed Eastbourne boss Jon Cook enough for him to sign the Danish youngster on the spot.

Cook said: "We have high hopes for Ulrich. He is a very aggressive rider, and I think his style will be suited to British speedway."

Ostergaard rides for Brovst in the Danish League and also rides regularly in Sweden, but this will be his first competitive match in England.

Dean Barker, David Norris and Joonas Kylmakorpi will lead the attack on cup rivals Oxford before leaving for Denmark to ride in next week's World Cup tournament.

The team is then completed by second-phase riders Gary Stead, Matt Read and the veteran Graham Jones, who has been in top form for Wolverhampton in the Conference League.

It all adds up to a tough test for an unfamiliar looking Eastbourne side against an Oxford squad that contains four internationals, including Grand Prix men Todd Wiltshire and Tomasz Bajerski.

Cook said: "Oxford are obviously pushing the boat out in an effort to reach the knockout stages of the competition. They look stronger than us on paper, but I'm confident we can win."

Eagles are so far undefeated in four matches, having beaten Reading, the Isle of Wight and Swindon at home and drawn on the island.

The top five group winners, plus the three best second-placed teams, will make up the quarter-finals to be staged in September, and Eastbourne are keen not to miss out.

Cook said: "We don't want to end the season with a series of challenge matches, so it is important we get through in the cup. I reckon if we beat Oxford and get a couple of bonus points we will be there."

The Oxford line-up also includes three-times British champion and former Grand Prix man Andy Smith and Jernej Kolenko, who top scored for Slovenia in last year's World Cup qualifier at Arlington.

With Ostergaard and Kolenko in action, as well as Oxford's new Czech signing, Lubos Tomicek, all of whom might find the tight Arlington bends something of a problem, it could be an interesting night.

The Czech rider is a third generation Lubos Tomicek. His grandfather was killed in a crash in the Czech Republic, while his father's speedway career was ended by a serious injury in a track pile-up.

The last time Wiltshire rode at the Sussex track, he was given a standing ovation as he did a lap of honour after he had announced his retirement from speedway at the end of the season.

That was Oxford's final league visit, and Wiltshire obviously didn't expect to be back. Cook said: "I guess he will have to do another lap of honour."

The Australian, however, could pose a real threat to Eagles before that happens, having scored heavily at Arlington in the past and done Eastbourne a couple of favours this season with 11-point returns as a guest replacement for Mark Loram.

So could Bajerski, who was reckoned to be in this year's Grand Prix series to make up the numbers but is currently the No. 2 Pole behind Tomasz Gollob and pushing for a top ten place.

Remarkably, Bajerski gets into the Oxford side at reserve because of his low English league average and that spells danger for Eastbourne if he takes a liking to the Arlington circuit.

Eastbourne: David Norris, Ulrich Ostergaard, Dean Barker, Gary Stead, Joonas Kylmakorpi, Graham Jones, Matt Read.

Oxford: Todd Wiltshire, Lubos Tomi-cek, Jernej Kolenko, Andy Smith, Travis McGowan, Tomasz Bajerski, Ricky Scarborough.

The start is at 7.30.