BULLISH Adam Ellis insists he will not settle for second best in the British under-21 final tonight – and is already eyeing the 2017 crown as well.

The 20-year-old Pirates reserve is set to lock horns with the likes of Robert Lambert and Josh Bates at Sheffield's Owlerton headquarters (7.30pm).

Great Britain international Lambert has been earmarked by many as the pre-meeting favourite while Coventry's Bates has home advantage as Sheffield are his Premier League club.

Ringwood-based Ellis finished runner-up behind Bates at Monmore Green in 2014 but did not compete last year due to a family bereavement.

And the France-born rider revealed he was keen to follow in the footsteps of previous winners – which include two-time champions Tai Woffinden and Scott Nicholls – in South Yorkshire.

Ellis told the Daily Echo: "I'm not going there to finish second or third, I want to win it.

"You treat it as another meeting but it means a lot. A lot of riders who have won it have gone on to have successful careers and I want to do the same.

"I think I have one more year in it after this year but I don't want to leave it until then, I want to try and win it this year and then, hopefully, retain it next year.

"Robert Lambert is the favourite and you can see why but anyone can have an off-night and if I can gate well, I definitely see myself fighting for the title.

"Josh Bates rides there every week and there are some other boys that are pretty good as well.

"It's not going to be an easy meeting – they never are. You always get a lot of crashes in those meetings because everyone is giving 100 per cent.

"Hopefully, I will stay out of that and score some points and come away with the win."

An added incentive for riders competing is the potential prize of a place in the world under-21s qualifiers.

Ellis rode in the world under-21 semi-final two years ago and narrowly missed out on progress in Stralsund, Germany.

Last summer, the youngster finished second in the European under-21 semi-final in Macon, France, going on to record a 10th-placed finish in the final in Silkeborg, Denmark.

Pirates asset Ellis Perks, a team-mate of Ellis's at Eastbourne, is also due to ride this evening.

Draw: 1 Oliver Greenwood, 2 Danny Phillips, 3 Josh Bates, 4 Ryan Kinsley, 5 James Shanes, 6 Robert Lambert, 7 Nathan Greaves, 8 Josh Bailey, 9 Jack Parkinson-Blackburn, 10 Zach Wajtknecht, 11 Adam Ellis, 12 Danno Verge, 13 Ellis Perks, 14 Jack Smith, 15 Max Clegg, 16 Connor Mountain. Reserves: 17 Alfie Bowtell, 18 Danyon Hume.