Eastbourne are becoming increasingly frustrated about the potential away wins they let slip through their fingers.

But they do not necessarily need victory on their travels today as they hit the Knockout Cup trail.

Eagles go to Kent in the first leg of the semi-final (6.30pm) with Marc Owen expected to race despite a bruised hand but Mattie Bates highly doubtful due to food poisoning.

The return leg will be staged at Arlington on Saturday, August 1 (7.30pm). That was originally the date for the league meeting, which has been moved to Sunday, September 6.

Eagles are still on course to reach the final of the National Trophy, despite a last-race defeat at Rye House Raiders on Saturday.

Bradley Wilson-Dean crashed challenging Kyle Hughes in heat 15 to gift the hosts a 5-1 which saw them through 47-43 in a thriller.

Wilson-Dean had won all four of his previous races.

Team boss Glenn Martin said: “It was a good meeting and we should still get to the Trophy final as group winners if we win our last home meeting, against Mildenhall.

“But we are a bit disappointed because we can’t take that final step to get an away win.

“It has happened a few times now. We are getting close but just not finishing it off.

“It is even more frustrating when you see Birmingham finishing away meetings strongly in the league. We need everyone to be on fire all the way through.”

Eagles were level going into heat 15 and assured of a point.

Martin told Wilson-Dean to go all out for the race win. The Kiwi got inside Hughes on bends three and four on the first lap, was then re-passed and hit the dirt trying to regain the lead.

Bates missed the meeting and Eagles again expect to use rider-replacement today.

Martin added: “We won there early in the season but I hope that doesn’t make the boys complacent because Kent have improved since then.”

Rye House: Hughes 14 (5), Morley 12+1 (5), Priest 7+1 (4), Chessell 5+1 (4), Hume 5 (4), Wood 2+1 (4), Bowtell 2 (4).

Eagles: Wilson-Dean 12 (5), Mason 9 (5), Wood 8+3 (7), Owen 7 (5), Andrews 6+2 (5), Dugard 1+1 (3), Bates r/r.