LAKESIDE Hammers speedway team return to Elite League action on Friday at the Arena-Essex Raceway.

They will host the high-revving sport’s oldest club, the Belle Vue Aces from Manchester.

It is crunch time for the Hammers’ league aspirations as they face three vital matches in five days with visits to Manchester on Monday, July 4.

But first up is a trip to Swindon on Thursday.

Having slipped to seventh place in the league table nothing short of a home win and a success on their travels will be required to boost the team’s chances of reaching a top-four position and an all-important play-off place.

With the Hammers’ Australian Adam Shields still sidelined with a knee injury the team will go into action utilizing the rider replacement facility.

Hammers co-promoter Jon Cook said: “We have hit our best home form of the season in our last two home matches, reaching 60 points in each, and our performance up at Birmingham in the cup was also our best on the road so far.

“Both myself and team manager Neil Vatcher believe the team can keep this form up in this period of Elite League meetings before we break again for the Speedway World Cup later in July, by which time we will have the final prognosis on Adam.”

The Hammers match against the Belle Vue Aces in the Elite League is this Friday and gets underway at the usual time of 8pm at the Arena-Essex Raceway in Purfleet.