Eastbourne Eagles boss Jon Cook has accused Elite League rivals Poole Pirates of "not playing the game" ahead of tonight's big TV clash at Arlington Stadium.

Cook is upset that the club's South Coast rivals have drafted in three new signings, including former Grand Prix rider Henrik Gustafsson, just before the play-offs which will decide the championship.

"What they have done is not against the rules, but as far as I am concerned it is against the spirit of the sport. It's what we feared would happen when the league shook down to the play-offs."

The Pirates acted after they were swamped 60-30 at Eastbourne 11 days ago, when six of their riders scored 12 points between them, and then lost their unbeaten home record to Wolverhampton.

Swedish international Gustafsson and Norway's Lars Gunnestad, plus Newcastle's Andre Compton, will all come into the side for tonight's match.

It is the inclusion of Gustafsson in a reserve place which has particularly infuriated Cook.

"I understood his average was going to be reassessed after he rode for Belle Vue last year. He has always been an eight-point rider, but he has got in their team with a four-something average.

"We knew they would come with a completely different team to a couple of weeks ago, but I'm very disappointed about Gustafsson. It gives them an unfair advantage."

Eastbourne are without the injured Dean Barker and Toni Svab. They will be replaced by Sussex champion and former Eagle Paul Hurry and Australian flyer Adam Shields.

The match is the first of four in seven days for the Sussex outfit as they bid to finish top of the league and gain a place in the championship final without having to qualify via the play-offs.

They are at home again to Oxford on Saturday, then go to Coventry on Monday before the return away to Poole next Wednesday.

Eastbourne: Mark Loram, Stefan Andersson, Joe Screen, David Norris, Paul Hurry, Savalas Clouting, Adam Shields.

Poole: Gary Havelock, Bjarne Pedersen, Hans Andersen, Lars Gunnestad, Tony Rickardsson, Henrik Gustafsson, Andre Compton. The start is at 7.30.