David Howe returns to the Wolverhampton line-up for tonight's showdown with play-off rivals Eastbourne - and Wolves know that their margin for error has now been all but wiped out.
After six weeks out with a broken ankle, Howe received the nod from the management to reclaim his team place with successful short-term replacement Adam Skornicki standing down - and possibly heading on loan to another Elite League club.
Promoter Chris Van Straaten said: "We have decided to re-introduce David because he is a quality rider with great potential. He hasn't had the chance to race for us out of the top two of the team this season, so this is his chance.
"Adam has exceeded all expectations and the club are well aware of how popular he is with the supporters at Monmore Green. It was a very difficult decision to make, and one which left us in a no-win situation."
The Wolves management have had to make their share of tough decisions in recent years, including making the choice between Mikael Max and brother Peter Karlsson, and also the occasions on which they have overlooked Sam Ermolenko from the team.
Skornicki can count himself unfortunate to miss out as he could have done little more in his six matches. The Pole had only one poor meeting, against Coventry, and indeed without that match his average would be up alongside that of Max.
However, Van Straaten and manager Peter Adams have issued a clear vote of confidence to the team who started the 2005 season, a team who now need to hit consistent form home and away if they are to make it into the top four in the Elite League.
Wolves lie six points behind fourth-placed Swindon, albeit with three matches in hand. But Eastboune are in between the two teams with a match in hand themselves on Wolves, which makes tonight's meeting all the more important.
The Eagles have been in or around the top four all season, but their push for a play-off place has been made more difficult due to skipper David Norris, the Wolverhampton track record holder, suffering an injury-hit campaign.
Norris is still feeling the effects of a head injury sustained at Swindon at the end of April, and has now been ruled out of the World Cup which starts in a fortnight.
Wolves travel to secondplaced Belle Vue on Wednesday, before the big local derby at Coventry on Friday night, which will be the first Brandon clash this season between the two clubs.
Coventry overturned a four-point deficit to keep their winning run going against Belle Vue on Friday and still retain a strong interest in a top two finishing position to secure a home draw in the semi-finals of the play-offs.
