Trevor Geer admits the odds have lengthened against his side scoring a welcome away win tonight.

But the Eastbourne Eagles team manager insists his men can still aim for at least a point as they go to Lakeside Hammers in the Elite League (8pm).

Eagles have raced just one full league meeting on the road so far this term but four solid home wins have kept them among the pacesetters.

They lost at Swindon, then drew a curtailed meeting at Poole before suffering three successive away rain-offs.

Now they find themselves without star reserve Simon Gustafsson as they tackle a Lakeside outfit who have taken eight points out of nine on home shale to date.

Geer said: “Every meeting this year we have surprised a few people and it’s a shame we have had these rain-offs, otherwise I think we would be top of the league now.

“We learned a lot from going to Lakeside in the cup and we will all be better prepared this time.

“I think if anyone is going to beat them at home it should be us. It’s a track we should be riding well.

“Losing Simon damages us, though. He has been going so well at reserve.

“I still think we can beat Lakeside, or at least get a point, but it will be a tough one.”

Eastbourne, who were beaten by 19 at Lakeside in a cup tie this season, need to lose by less than seven to grab a point.

A draw is worth two points and a win three, or four if the margin is seven or more.

Lakeside, missing the injured Joonas Kylmakorpi, name young British prospect Robert Mear at reserve.

Lakeside: Shields, Davidsson,Richardson, Kylmakorpi r/r, Nieminen, Mear, Robson.

Eagles: Watt, Norris, Bridger, Woodward, Dryml, Kling, Schramm.