Eastbourne Eagles are sweating on the fitness of Stefan Andersson for their Good Friday double-header with Poole Pirates.

The veteran Swede is still suffering the after-effects of a blow to the head suffered in a fall in Poland on Sunday.

Eagles, already missing Davey Watt, will have to delve into the Premier League for a replacement if Andersson does not make it.

A busy Elite League programme tomorrow means no top-flight riders are available to guest.

Daniel Nermark, a member of the all-conquering Kings Lynn team, is most likely to step up if Andersson is ruled out of the morning trip to Dorset and the home fixture in the evening.

Andersson also suffered a minor foot injury in his crash.

Eagles manager Trevor Geer said: "Stefan has phoned me twice a day this week.

"The main problem is with his head. You have to be very careful with head injuries, you can't ride until your are right, but he was sounding a lot better yesterday."

Andersson had been due to ride for Eastbourne at Belle Vue on Monday but called Geer just before boarding his flight back from Poland to Luton saying he was feeling too ill to travel.

By then, it was too late for him and his luggage to be offloaded so he came to England regardless.

He flew to Sweden on Tuesday morning after missing the 50-43 defeat to Belle Vue, in which Mark Lemon deputised for him.

Geer said: "Stefan rang me straight after the meeting in Poland on Sunday.

"He told me what had happened but said he would be okay. He called again later and said he was a lot better but he then felt ill at the airport."

Andersson, or whoever replaces him, faces a big workload tomorrow as Eagles use rider-replacement to cover for Watt, who broke his wrist in last Saturday's win over Reading.

All Eagles riders other than top two Nicki Pedersen and David Norris will have to tackle ten heats, five in each meeting.

Nermark, a 29-year-old from Karlstad, Sweden, would come into the team on an average of about 4.30. Crucially, that would allow him to ride at No. 2 and keep Lewis Bridger in a reserve berth.

Eagles' other option as a guest is another Kings Lynn rider, Tomas Topinka.

The 32-year-old Czech would slot in on a similar average to Nermark.

Both Nermark and Topinka are used to riding at the 342-metre Norfolk Arena track, which is 43 metres longer than the Poole circuit.

Meanwhile, Pedersen has revealed a hole in the Belle Vue track was responsible for his smash with rising British star Simon Stead on Monday.

But the Eagles captain admitted referee Margaret Vardy got it right by ruling him out of the re-run as his team lost in Manchester.

Belle Vue's reserves got their team out of a hole and led them to victory, despite top man Stead being ruled out after his opening-heat clash with Pedersen.

The Dane, who escaped with a small bruise to the hip, admitted: "It was the right decision to rule me out for the re-race.

"I'm glad to hear that Simon did not get seriously hurt because it was the kind of crash that could have been even worse."

Stead sustained concussion, a cut under the eye and bruising in the crash, which saw him flung over the safety fence.