Davey Watt wants to be back at the track when Eastbourne Eagles tackle their traditional Good Friday double-header today.

But the injured Eagles star admits he will not race in April after the horrendous smash which plunged Arlington into stunned silence.

Watt has spent the week slowly recovering after the clash with Travis McGowan which sent him hurtling on to the stock car track in last Saturday's win over Reading.

The meeting was held up for more than half-an-hour and fans waited anxiously for news as the star Aussie was treated by paramedics, then taken to hospital.

As well as a broken wrist, he has been suffering from neck pains and severe headaches this week.

But the Poole-based rider wants to be at his local track as the hometown Pirates host Eastbourne in the Elite League this morning (11.30am).

And he might even make the trip to Arlington for tonight's return fixture (7.30pm).

Watt said: "I'm looking forward to that. I don't want to be away from it.

"I might be injured and stuff at the moment and a bit frustrated but it doesn't mean I don't want to be part of the team.

"Physically I'm not really great at the moment. I went to see my physio on Monday. He had a look at me but didn't really do anything. We just had a chat about a few things.

"I went back on Wednesday and he gently had a bit of a look around my neck. It was a bit sore but hopefully I am on the right road to recovery.

"I can at least move my head a little better and I can walk around okay."

Watt has been told he faces four to six weeks out of action and he admitted: "I won't be riding in the month of April.

"It's a shame this has happened so early in the season but I guess April is not a bad month to miss. There aren't a lot of meetings on."

Eagles will operate rider-replacement for Watt, with an extra ride per meeting for Dean Barker, Lewis Bridger, Cameron Woodward and Daniel Nermark, who guests for the injured Stefan Andersson That means ten rides each in the day for that quartet as Eagles chase a first away win and, more realistically, a first bonus point of the season.

Team manager Trevor Geer admitted: "We will miss Davey in view of the rides he takes for us.

"We will be looking for the boys to up their game as they did last Saturday."

Bridger and Woodward outscored Poole reserves Jason Doyle and Troy Batchelor over the course of the recent two-legged pre-season challenge and twice scored heat-two 5-1s.

But Barker could be the man to make a difference as he gradually returns to form and fitness.

Barker's pre-season build-up was bedevilled by illness but Geer said: "He really looked good last Saturday and at Belle Vue on Monday. He gave 110 per cent, was passing people and looked his old self."

That sort of form will be key again today because strength in depth is where Eagles will look to score against top-heavy Poole.

Jason Crump had 13 wins in 15 Elite League races ahead of last night's showdown with Leigh Adams at Swindon and Bjarne Pedersen is a another big scorer for the Pirates.

Edward Kennett could be the next Poole threat, especially at the Arlington track he knows so well.

Watt just wants to play his part as a spectator on one of the busiest days of the Elite League season and will be hoping no one suffers the fate he did by ending the evening in hospital.

He wasn't the only one who needed attention. His great mate Adam Shields, who had been guesting for Reading, popped in to visit and almost ended up staying.

Shields took a hefty fall during the meeting and Watt revealed: "He came to visit me in hospital on the way home and almost ended up being admitted himself.

"He wasn't feeling so good but I spoke to him the next day and he was a lot better."