LAKESIDE Hammers will turn to one of the Club's legendary riders to overcome an injury crisis at reserve this Friday in the local derby clash with Eastbourne at the Arena-Essex Raceway.

LAKESIDE Hammers will turn to one of the Club's legendary riders to overcome an injury crisis at reserve this Friday in the local derby clash with Eastbourne at the Arena-Essex Raceway.

Andrew Silver, who has made a successful comeback to Speedway racing after an absence of 15years, will be filling for the injured Phil Morris and Robert Mear.

Silver's return is sure to evoke memories of long term fans from the two seasons when he was virtually unbeatable for the then 2nd Division team and became one of the very few riders from a lower division team to represent his Country back in the time when England raced test series.

Both Mear and Morris are expected to be doubtful for the start of the Play offs, and are certainly out of next Friday's last Sky Sports Elite League match against Eastbourne when Birmingham's Rusty Harrison will fill the number 6 berth.

The Hammers Co Promoter and Team manager Jon Cook commented on the implications following the injuries to their doubling up pair by saying: "Both Robert and Phil have been important members of this year's squad and its a blow not to have them around but it opens opportunities for others and it will be great to have Andrew back at the Club this week at a time when he is hitting peak form. We had hoped to add William Lawson to our squad but with a counter offer on the table he felt it only fair that he waited until next season before making a return to the Elite League, thus keeping his options open, a view which I agree with wholeheartedly, but unfortunately for us on the new monthly averages his figure now precludes him guesting for us."

Just who Andrew Silver lines up with on Friday has not been decided as Skipper Adam Shields has now completed three matches abroad and is chomping on the bit for a return to the Hammers team. The Aussie is due to meet up with Cook and Team owner Stuart Douglas later today (Wednesday) with an announcement to follow.

This Friday's important home League match against the Eastbourne Eagles starts at the usual time of 8pm. The 'Kids for a Quid' scheme continues whereby children aged 6 to 16 can watch this meeting for just �1. Those supporters who hold re-admission tickets following the abandonment of last Friday's home match against Ipswich may use their tickets for this meeting (or one of the Hammers remaining home fixtures).