Connor Dugard believes Eastbourne have TWO reserves who are on the way up.

Tom Brennan could take another step towards the No.1 spot by shining at home to Stoke tonight (7.30pm).

But sidekick Charley Powell is also making progress in the opening weeks of the season.

Brennan will move out of the reserve berth when new averages are released on May 27 and Powell will aim to up his figure from 4.05.

Team boss Connor Dugard said: “Tom will be No.1 unless he has some disastrous meetings. He has a ten-point average now. I knew he would be good but I didn’t think he would be this good!

The Argus:

Charley Powell

“People have said we could struggle at reserve when Tom moves up but Charley has got some good scores.

“Charley has put a lot of money into his equipment this year.

“He has changed a few things on his bike and how it is set up.

“It is paying off in his speedway and I hear that is the case in longtrack and grasstrack as well.”

Ben Hopwood guests for unavailable Connor Coles against the Potters and Dugard is warning against complacency.

He said: “In many ways, it’s a similar situation to last week, when Mildenhall visited Arlington.

“We had seen them off easily in 2016 but they clung on to our coat tails all the way last Saturday and could, with a bit of luck, have caused an upset. It could be the same again this week.

“I have told the team I need total concentration, maximum effort and their machinery well prepared. We just cannot afford to give away silly points.”

Mitchell Davey is proving a potent No 1 for Stoke and is supported by the free-scoring Luke Priest, who is always a handful at Arlington, and the evergreen Tony Atkin.

Eagles: Baseby, Dugard, Hopwood, Bates, Wood, Powell, Brennan.

Stoke: Davey, Tedham, Terry-Daley, Atkin, Priest, Speight, Wallinger.