Nicki Pedersen has handed Eastbourne Eagles another injury blow.

The big-scoring Dane is set to sit out two weeks of action after this weekend's Slovenian Grand Prix.

Pedersen requires surgery on a long-standing wrist problem. He will miss the home meeting against Swindon on May 29 and trips to Wolverhampton, where he usually gets a hostile reception, and Peterborough.

The news will come as little surprise to those who have seen Pedersen, clearly in discomfort, ice his wrists between races recently.

Eagles have booked Peter Karlsson as replacement for tomorrow's match with Oxford, which Pedersen misses because of his GP commitments.

They may opt to use a guest in place of injured Adam Shields for the following three matches and use ride-replacement to cover Pedersen.

The Dane has set his heart on regaining the world title he clinched in 2003 but admits he has a tough act to follow in Krsko this weekend.

Pedersen said: "The track there has suited me for the past few years. I've been on the rostrum so there's a bit of pressure on me to do it again.

"I want to start out well. That's very important for me. I'm feeling in good shape, I'm feeling relaxed.

"I've been working hard in the winter. Now it's all about Saturday."

Tony Rickardsson will start as favourite to retain his crown but Jason Crump could be a good bet to win back the title he last took in 2004.

Crump looked to be in prime form at last Sunday's truncated Elite League Riders Championship.

The Belle Vue skipper reckons his reduced workload in Europe this year could help him in a season extended by the addition of the Latvian GP.

He said: "Latvia is exciting. It's a new venue for us, a new country.

"Having ten GPs doesn't bother me. Hopefully a few of the other guys might get more worn out than I do.

"The season has started pretty well for me so I would be silly not to go to Slovenia pretty happy and hopeful of a good result."

Last night's British Under-21 Championship final at Kings Lynn, featuring Eastbourne's Lewis Bridger, was washed out and has been re-scheduled for May 3.