Joe Screen is back at Arlington Stadium tomorrow night with Belle Vue. And although he won't admit it, you just know he has something to prove.

It will be his first appearance since, he believes, he was unceremoniously dumped by Eastbourne to make way for new signing Nicki Pedersen.

Ask him how he feels about returning to ride against Eagles, the team he captained until a month ago, and he says: "I'm not bothered. It's just another meeting as far as I'm concerned."

But dig a bit deeper and Screen's mood betrays a sense of injustice and perhaps bitterness.

"I knew as soon as there was talk about someone else coming in that I would be the one to go, but no one at the club would admit it.

"What really peed me off was coming down to ride in that match against the Rest of the World on the Monday night. They told me in the morning I was going but wouldn't announce it until the next day.

"I told everyone who I knew what was happening but Eastbourne wanted to keep it quiet. They kept saying they didn't know.

"What upset me more than anything else was they wouldn't let me go on the microphone and thank all the supporters there. I thought that was really, really wrong."

Screen also revealed that he expected to be given a testimonial this season.

"I was due to have my testimonial this year but for some reason Eastbourne didn't want to let me have one. I was disappointed about that. They said at the start of the season I couldn't have one."

Screen says he was entitled to a testimonial after ten years of unbroken service because his time at Bradford was carried over to Eastbourne when he signed for Eagles.

"I was told when I joined Eastbourne I would get a testimonial because Bradford closed down and I hadn't asked for a transfer. I haven't asked for one from Eastbourne, either, so hopefully wherever I am next year I will get a testimonial then."

For Screen, riding for Belle Vue is very much a case of deja vu. He made his debut for the Aces at the age of 16 and also had a spell with them on loan before Eastbourne shelled out £21,000 and made him their second most expensive signing.

A former world under-21 champion, British champion and league riders' champion, he finished sixth in the Grand Prix series in 1999 and has won a hat-trick of league titles with Belle Vue, Bradford and Eastbourne.

Things started to go wrong when he missed most of the 2001 season with a broken thigh following a crash at King's Lynn. Arguably he has never regained his best form since that night.

Screen admits he has gone through a difficult time this season. "I couldn't get on with the Eastbourne track and all the rumours that they wanted someone else to join the club didn't help. I knew I was going be the one to go.

"I did try my best but I had got myself into a bit of a rut when they got rid of me."

Things have got better for Screen since he left Arlington. "I've moved on a bit now and my form is going okay. I'm a lot happier riding and I'm scoring points."

Belle Vue boss John Perrin is in no doubt the signing of Screen has rejuvenated the Aces' season. He said: "Joe has settled back in really well and he has made a lot of difference."

The difference has included helping to lift the Manchester club off the bottom of the Elite League.

What Eastbourne can't afford is for Screen to be party to winning at Arlington tomorrow night.