The last-gasp decision to gamble on Mark Loram's fitness paid off for Eastbourne Eagles at Arlington Stadium on Saturday night.

The double-chasing Sussex outfit have one wheel in the Knockout Cup final after Loram inspired them to a 52-38 win over Wolverhampton. But the Eastbourne No. 1 admitted afterwards: "It was a big chance. I didn't want to let anyone down, but when the club couldn't get anyone to replace me we had nothing to lose."

Loram spent most of the day sleeping in the back of his van en route to the stadium after he was forced to pull out of the match at Oxford the night before with a stomach bug.

Loram won his first three races, including the opener in the quickest time of the season of 55.5sec., one-fifth outside the track record, and finished as Eastbourne's top scorer with 12 points.

It was the highlight in a solid all-round display, with Toni Svab, back at full power, leading the supporting cast with a paid 12 return.

In contrast, Wolves were again virtually a two-man team, with the Karlsson brothers contributing all but nine of the visitors' points as they did in the league encounter earlier in the season.

Eagles now go to Monmore Green for tonight's second leg with a 14-point lead and as hot favourites to reach the final against Peterborough, who edged out Coventry 91-89 in the other semi-final. The door is still slightly ajar for Wolves, whereas Eastbourne will be disappointed they didn't slam it shut at Arlington.

They led 41-19 two-thirds of the way through the match, but after the break Wolves clawed back eight points.

Loram began in spectacular style by beating Grand Prix rival Mikael Karlsson before Savalas Clouting and Svab hit the visitors with a 5-1 in the reserves' race.

Peter Karlsson equalled Loram's time of 55.5sec. in heat three, but Eagles grabbed another 5-1 through Dean Barker and Svab in the next when both Lee Dicken and Paul Hurry fell and remounted.

Joe Screen beat Mikael Karlsson in heat five, and when Loram and David Norris bagged Eastbourne's third 5-1 in six races Eagles led 26-10.

That was the cue for Wolves to throw in their big two as tactical substitutes. Peter Karlsson defeated Screen in heat nine, but Norris brilliantly beat Mikael Karlsson in the one before.

Peter Karlsson was still unbeaten going into heat ten, but Eagles were in fantasy land at the interval after Loram and Norris had relegated him to third place.

Mikael Karlsson and Hurry, in as another tactical, hinted at a Wolves revival with a one-two on the resumption, but Svab produced the ride of the night in heat 12 to beat Peter Karlsson.

Loram suffered his first defeat in heat 13 at the hands of Mikael Karlsson and Jesper B. Jensen, without a point until then, suddenly hit the front to win the next.

If Eagles fail to reach the final, heat 15 will haunt them. Mikael Karlsson won it, with Peter Karlsson getting past Loram and Norris at the back to cut the arrears by another four points.