The Hammers have ten meetings in the space of 20 days

Lakeside Hammers team manager Jon Cook says the next few weeks will be crucial to the success of their season.

The Essex side are currently third in the Elite League, but have a number of meetings in hand over both Poole and Swindon, who sit above them.

Cook told BBC Essex: "The league is everything to us at the moment, it's where we've set our aspirations.

"We want to win the league and we want to do it with what we've been having all season with increased attendances."

He added: "Hopefully it will be speedway that will not only win something, but also keep the bank manager happy at the end of the season."

Obviously we've still got the knock-out cup with Eastbourne which is an exciting proposition, but the league is everything to us at the moment Jon Cook

The Hammers begin their title charge with matches against two of their closest rivals for a top four play-off place.

On Friday they face fifth-placed Ipswich Witches at the Arena-Essex Raceway, before heading to fourth-placed Eastbourne Eagles the following evening.

"We've got some very busy weeks ahead," Cook admitted. "Unfortunately international commitments mean we're going to Eastbourne without Lubos Tomicek and at home to Swindon without Ricky [Kling].

"But that's the nature of the business and hopefully we'll be able to cover for their absences on these meetings.

"But yeah it's an important time, the focus is totally on the league. Obviously we've still got the knock-out cup with Eastbourne which is an exciting proposition, but the league is everything to us at the moment."