Eastbourne Eagles will open their season with a visit from derby rivals Kent.

Eagles host Kent at noon on Good Friday in what is being called the Good Friday Chase. The sides reconvene at 6.30pm on the same day for the second leg.

The sides also lock horns on April 9 in the first National League fixture of the year at Arlington.

Eastbourne are also looking forward to a weekend double-header against Mildenhall as they start their defence of the Knockout Cup.

Eagles will be happy to get the trip to Coventry out of the way early after the fixture was delayed several times last season. They go to Brandon on Easter Monday, March 28, with tapes up at 4pm.

Home meetings will be predominantly staged at 7.30pm on Saturdays although a few Sunday afternoon fixtures are on the agenda for later in the season.

The trip to newcomers Isle of Wight comes at the end of summer as Eagles cross the Solent on Thursday, September 1.

Among home fixtures fans will be looking out for are the visits of champions Birmingham (April 30) and likely title challengers Cradley (May 28).

There is also the prospect of Bank Holiday Monday trips to Rye House at the end of May and Kent in August.

Travelling fans will make a weekend of fixtures at Stoke and Buxton on successive days at the start of August.

Disappointingly, there is only one meeting planned for July although there also two reserve dates at Arlington during the month.

The club will hope to have Cup and play-off dates to fit into their initial fixture list.

MARCH.

25: Kent (Good Friday Chase, home noon, away 6.30pm).

28: Coventry (a, 4pm).

APRIL.

9 Kent (h).

13 King’s Lynn (a).

23: Mildenhall (h, KOC).

24: Mildenhall (a, KOC).

30: Birmingham (h).

MAY

7: Isle of Wight (h).

8: Rye House (a).

13: Belle Vue (a).

28: Cradley (h).

30: Rye House (a).

JUNE

1: Birmingham (a).

4: Buxton (h).

18: Rye House (h).

26: King’s Lynn (h).

27: Cradley (a).

JULY

31: Mildenhall (h).

AUGUST

6: Stoke (a).

7: Buxton (a).

29: Kent (a).

SEPTEMBER

1: Isle of Wight (a).

3: Coventry (h).

4: Mildenhall (a).

11: Stoke (h).

18: Belle Vue (h).