LAKESIDE team manager Jon Cook has moved quickly to plug the gaps left in the Hammers' line-up ahead of tonight's Elite League play-off final first leg.

Hammers take on Poole in the two-legged showdown following Lubos Tomicek’s departure and the injury to Kauko Nieminen.

Cook has signing experienced Polish rider Krzysztof Jablonski to fill the void and he will be in the team tonight at the Arena-Essex Raceway After Nieminen broke his collar bone in the semi-final triumph against Swindon, Tomicek shocked the club by announcing that he would not be available for the home match with Poole preferring to compete in a meeting in his native Czech Republic. Jablonski , who is a Wolverhampton asset, will fly into the country today and will be using equipment provided by Jason Crump, who uses a workshop at the Pole’s home when racing in that country.

There should be no question of Jablonski not having the right machinery and set-up for the Purfleet circuit because he will be astride the machine on which Crump completed a maximum for Belle Vue when the Aces raced at Lakeside last month.

The Australian former World Champion is also loaning a bike that is set up for Poole when the Hammers travel to Dorset next week for the second leg.

Cook, also the Hammers co-promoter, said: "This is the final roll of the dice for us and we wanted to line up in the final without guests and that’s what we have done."

Cook also believes that the inclusion of Jablonski could prove particularly significant in the away leg.

“I think Krzysztof will be a considerable gain in the second leg over Tomicek, although he will do well to match what we should have expected from either Lubos or Kauko at home," Cooks added.

“The final will be decided over 30 heats and we need to have something extra at Wimborne Road even if it means sacrificing points at home. "The last few weeks have been a testing time for the team, with major injuries to three of our top riders but we’ve come through it all and are eagerly anticipating what should be a fantastic final.

"There was nothing between the teams after the 32-match scheduled league programme and it’s fitting that the best two teams in the country will be competing for the title of League Champions.”

There is a welcome return from injury for Jonas Davidsson although Cook appreciates that the Swedish rider will be short of match fitness. Poole, who hold hopes of achieving an Elite League and Knockout Cup double, reached the league final by thrashing Ipswich 59-33 in their semi-final last Monday.

And with the final settled on aggregate, they will prove tough opposition for the Hammers, who go into the match as underdogs.

The four league meetings between the two clubs this season have been shaded by the Pirates – just- with an aggregate 188-181 race points.

Lakeside have won all three meetings between the clubs at the Raceway this season, beating Poole 53-40 in the Spring Trophy before following up with 48-45 and 53-39 victories in the league encounters.

Tonight’s meeting commences at 7.30pm with the return scheduled for Wimborne Road on Monday, October 13.

Lakeside: 1 Andreas Jonsson, 2 Leigh Lanham, 3 Rider Replacement for Adam Shields, 4 Jonas Davidsson, 5 Tomascz Jedrzejak, 6 Ricky Kling 7 Krzysztof Jablonski.

Poole: 1 Chris Holder, 2 Magnus Zetterstron, 3 Bjarne Pedersen, 4 Adam Skornicki, 5 Davey Watt, 6 Freddie Eriksson, 7 Danie Davidsson.