LAKESIDE Hammers hope to secure the Club's first ever senior league silverware this Friday, when they take a big 23 points lead to Brandon Stadium, the home of the Coventry Bees, for the Elite League Knockout Cup Final second leg.

LAKESIDE Hammers hope to secure the Club's first ever senior league silverware this Friday, when they take a big 23 points lead to Brandon Stadium, the home of the Coventry Bees, for the Elite League Knockout Cup Final second leg.

All roads from Essex will lead to Warwickshire as the team's faithful supporters are expected to turn out in force to cheer their team on to victory.

The Hammers named the same team that beat the Bees, with Dane Tom P. Madsen continuing at reserve but will now operate 'Rider Replacement' for their longest serving rider, Finn Joonas Kylmakorpi, after the rider decided, after consultation with the Club, to undergo an operation on Monday in Sweden to take metalwork out of his elbow. The facility will give an extra ride to the Hammers Captain Adam Shields and Kakke Nieminen plus a ride each for the reserves.

The Hammers Co-Promoter and Team Manager Jon Cook commented: "In normal circumstances this would be a major blow to our hopes but, in all honesty on this occasion, it's probably to our advantage. Joonas has been a shadow of his normal self away from home of late and last week he even struggled at home with his fitness. He has ridden with screws holding his elbow together for longer than recommended and they have worked loose now, hence his operation on Monday.

“We wish him a speedy recovery and hope to see the JK of old on his return. In the meantime we need to go to Coventry in a similar frame of mind to that which Wolverhampton adopted for the Play Offs, namely to win rather than defend our lead. 'Rider Replacement' gives us a host of options during the night and the team are doubly determined to finish the season with the silverware I believe their efforts over the entire season deserve."