SWINDON will be hoping to bring down another of the Elite League’s big boys tonight as the Sky Sports cameras pay their first visit to Blunsdon in 2011.

The Robins chalked up their first home victory of the year on Thursday with an impressive 49-43 defeat of hotly-tipped Poole but now they must take on the side that sit top of the pile, which is Eastbourne.

Trevor Geer’s side may admittedly have completed more meetings than any other team which to some degree explains their lofty position, but they have recorded generally positive results thus far, winning five out of five at home and taking points at three out of five of their away meetings.

A much-changed Swindon side failed to complete their fixture at Eastbourne on Friday after a heavy downpour caused the meeting to be abandoned at 24-12 after six heats.

In that same meeting Justin Sedgmen suffered a heavy crash in race seven, which was ultimately never completed.

The young Australian was lucky to escape serious injury after careering into the air fence following contact with guest teammate Darcy Ward, with a significant hole punched through the back of his helmet.

Neverthelesss, the reserve is fully fit and is expected to take his place in the septet tonight, unlike Simon Stead who had hoped to make his comeback at the Abbey Stadium this evening.

The Robins captain has not raced for Swindon since April 14 due to rib injuries and had desperately wanted to be fit enough to race tonight, but now a return against Wolverhampton next week looks the most likely option.

Robins co-owner Gary Patchett revealed Stead, who has missed the last four completed meetings, should not have to be on the sidelines much longer .

He said: “We were hoping to have Simon Stead back but we would rather him return when he is fully fit and it's not too far away right now.

“It was a great win against Poole but in the end we were disappointed that we couldn't take all three points. We allowed them a consolation.

“Now the boys will be going for all three against a powerful Eastbourne side."

On the visitors’ side, talented Peterborough youngster Dakota North guests at reserve in place of the unavailable Timo Lahti, while Cameron Woodward has drops into the bottom two with Lewis Bridger moving into the main body of the team.

Tonight’s action starts at the later-than-usual time of 8pm.

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