Martin Dugard has urged Eastbourne’s reserves to perform as they aim to clinch a cup final place.

And he has admitted his son Kelsey, above, may have been complacent early in the season.

Dugard junior and Mattie Bates team up at the bottom of the order for what could be a formality in the Knockout Cup.

Eagles won 42-28 in a rain-curtailed first leg and should finish the job at Arlington tonight (7.30pm).

Bates drops to reserve under the new set of averages while Dugard is recalled in place of Gary Cottham.

Martin Dugard, Eagles chairman, said: “I’m expecting a bit of enthusiasm from Kelsey.

“He should come back a bit more hungry than he has been.

“I think he was complacent. He didn’t think he would ever be replaced.

“But he has watched meetings now and seen what other boys do and he realises he can score better than he did.”

Bates has been going out in heat one but now finds himself in the bottom two with Georgie Wood – or his replacement while injured – moving out of the reserves.

Dugard added: “We are more dependent now on Mattie than ever.”

Eagles still see Cottham as a possible team member next season and want him to ride in second halves to increase confidence.

Martin Knuckey of Coventry guests for Richard Andrews while Eagles operate rider-replacement for Wood.

That means all riders except Bradley Wilson-Dean and Ben Hopwood can take an extra race.

Eagles have been keen to warn against complacency against an improving Kent side led by Ben Morley, whose races with Wilson-Dean could be classics.

Team manager Glenn Martin said: “We’ve had the upper hand so far this season against Kent but we are taking nothing for granted.

“A Knockout Cup final in our first year as a National League club would be a brilliant achievement.”

Eagles: Wilson-Dean, Wood r/r, Hopwood, Owen, Knuckey, Dugard, Bates.