Kent Eagles have been forced into making a team change to cover for the injured Charlie Wood.

A fall resulting in a broken collarbone for Wood was the only setback of Eagles’ successful first fixture and victory over Leicester Fox Cubs last month and now Luke Harris is set to step into the Iwade outfit’s line-up.

He is set to make his debut in their next National Development Trophy encounter against Plymouth Centurions at the Kent venue on June 15.

Ironically Harris is due to race against the Eagles for Thurrock Hammers in a Grand Challenge match at Iwade on Sunday (12pm).

He made his debut in the sport with Kent Kings in the 2014 National League campaign and was British Youth 500cc champion that same year. He rode for Eastbourne in 2016 with whom he was a member of their Knockout Cup-winning side and has also ridden for Cradley, Coventry and Somerset.

This year sees him riding for the Scunthorpe/Sheffield collaboration in the National Development League.

At stake on Sunday is the 'Ken-Ex' Cup. The competition was first staged in the early 1970s when it was contested between Canterbury and Crayford and Essex sides Rayleigh and Romford.

When Crayford closed at the end of 1970, Eastbourne were invited to take part, the Sussex side taking the glory from original winners Canterbury Crusaders.

With Romford lost to the sport at the end of 1971 the competition was not restaged.

For Eagles, Nathan Ablitt again takes his place at number 1, with Mickie Simpson coming in to ride alongside him replacing Jacob Clouting who is on duty with Oxford.

Vinnie Foord, who has been particularly busy racing for Workington, dons the number three race jacket. Kent-based Jamie Etherington. moves up the order to four, while skipper Ben Morley completes the heat leader trio at five.

Nathan Hargrave takes the first reserve spot hoping for a confidence-boosting return following his recent shoulder injury and completing the septet is another youngster in Hayden Watts. Watts has recently caught the eye at the regular training days held at the venue.

Eagles team manager David Graveling said: “It proved a massive blow to lose Charlie in his first ride for the club, however we look forward to welcoming him back to the side as soon as he is ready and we look forward very much to helping him hit the speedway heights that we are all expecting of him.

“In the meantime, we are most grateful to Luke for agreeing to step into the side and help us out. We already know what he is capable of, he has done numerous laps around Iwade, is very experienced at this level and will surely prove the ideal replacement while Charlie works on his fitness.”

Admission on Sunday is £13 adults and £10 concessions (60-years plus and blue badge with car disabled parking) with children up to the age of 16 free with a paying adult. Gates open at 10am.

Remaining fixtures: Home: June 1: Thurrock Hammers (Grand Challenge), June 15: Plymouth Centurions (National Development Trophy), July 20: British Youth Championship (qualifying round), August 10: Kings Lynn Young Stars (National Development Trophy), September 7: Birmingham Bulls (National Development Trophy).
Away: July 7: Birmingham Bulls (National Development Trophy), July 16: Kings Lynn Young Stars (National Development Trophy), August 30: Plymouth Centurions (National Development Trophy), September 21: Leicester Fox Cubs (National Development Trophy).