Star guest Edward Kennett today insisted he is happy to keep helping Eastbourne Eagles in their hours of need.

But the injury-plagued Sussex club could be ready to exploit their assets further afield as they strive to keep their season alive.

Team manager Trevor Geer revealed the club will consider a call for Roman Povazhny if they do not get good news on injuries this week.

Eagles were missing four of their first-choice line-up and tracked just four riders with top-flight experience as they lost 53-40 at home to table-topping Coventry Bees on Saturday.

Nicki Pedersen dropped just one point in five rides and Edward Kennett had 12 points from his first five outings before coming last in heat 15.

But Lewis Bridger and Davey Watt were below par when they needed to be at their best, two novice 19-year-old reserves brought in two points between them and Eagles got just five points from what were effectively five replacement rides for David Norris if you include heat 15.

Norris and Dean Barker will know more about their prospects of coming back later this week but reserve Cameron Woodward has been signed off for four weeks.

Which is where the asset base comes in.

Povazhny is the most likely target, though a comeback would depend on whether he is willing to add English meetings to his other commitments, notably in Poland and Russia.

The 30-year-old Russian has had three spells at Eastbourne and scored paid 16 for Arena-Essex at Arlington two years ago.

Geer said: "If Dean needs an operation on his shoulder and he is out for 28 days we will need to bring someone in.

"There are a few riders out there who, with a few phone calls, we could be looking at getting in to help us out.

"It depends on what the averages allow. Povazhny is a talented rider who knows this place well. Given the right equipment he could get a few points."

Kennett will still be called upon for home matches when needed and remains first choice guest.

But his availability for away trips cannot be guaranteed.

Both Kennett and Bridger will miss next month's home clash with Peterborough when they go to the semi-finals of the World Under-21 Championship in Denmark.

Kennett said: "I am happy to come back here because it's local and I want to help Eastbourne out as much as I can.

"I get on well with Trevor, we've got a good relationship, and even on the morning of the meeting, when he told me Floppy (Norris) couldn't ride, I said I'd do it straight away."

Kennett is in demand around the league and also has individual commitments, as well as playing an increasingly key role for Poole.

But he is adamant burnout will not be an issue.

He said: "Not at all. This week, for example, I've got nothing for a week. I'm happy to help out."

GP riders Chris Harris and Scott Nicholls were the only men to beat Kennett on Saturday but Coventry's win was convincing enough.

Take away Pedersen's three extra points for his tactical ride and you get a 16-point margin.

But Eastbourne would like to think they could have got an extra eight points from their first-choice reserves, had they been available, to make up a 16-point swing.

Tom Hedley, from Premier League Newport, looked like he had a bit about him and passed former Eagles reserve Ollie Allen for his only points.

But Tom Brown, a very late call-up from Conference outfit Plymouth after the intended stand-in Dan Giffard broke his collarbone on Friday night, was understandably off the pace.

Bridger was a disappointment. A hitch behind the scenes meant he ended up using a big-track bike and he struggled badly coming out of corners.

Even when he did get it right, with a late pass inside Martin Smolinski in heat ten, it was only worth a 3-3 because, ahead of him, Pedersen was being handed a rare home defeat by Rory Schlein.

Watt, still striving for full fitness after his own injury problems, produced one highlight as he glided inside Billy Janniro for third place in a heat-three 4-2 with Kennett.

That was Eagles' only authentic heat advantage and tied the scores at 9-9. However, Harris, who received a warm ovation from the crowd for his GP feats of a week earlier, led Allen to a 5-1 in heat four after a somewhat ragged start.

Eagles never really threatened after that.