The Rocks are without a home win this term and Pearce is desperate for his team to impress in front of the Nyewood Lane crowd.

Pearce said: "We need to get a good performance out of the boys and we need a result at home.

"Eastbourne won't be easy and and historically we've been poor against them, but if we put in a good performance I think we can get a result."

The Rocks have lost all three home games this season and failed to score in the games against Bishop's Stortford and Lewes.

However, they have found life easier on the road, taking six points from a possible nine.

Bognor bounced back well against Maidenhead on Saturday with a 2-1 win, which helped to put behind them the 5-0 home defeat by Lewes,

Pearce said: "We did okay last weekend and got a result, which was the most important thing.

"I thought we bounced back very well from the previous defeat.

"I was very pleased for the boys because they have taken a lot of stick for their home performances.

"What was good about Saturday was that the boys were more motivated.

"When Maidenhead scored first it could have been a case of 'here we go again', but we fought back and got a result."

The Rocks boss still insists his side were unlucky to go down 5-0 to Lewes in their last outing at Nyewood Lane and urged fans to get behind his side tonight in the Sussex derby.

He added: "I've said on record I don't think Lewes was a 5-0 game.

"Just before they scored their first we almost made it 2-1 when Ben Johnson's header went just wide, and then they went up the other end and scored.

"I didn't think 5-0 was a fair result."

Loan signing Craig Richards impressed on his debut from Salisbury and is set to keep his place, allowing summer signing David Ray to push up to right midfield.

However, Pearce admitted financial problems were still making it difficult for the Rocks to compete.

The club have debts of around £125,000 and are losing more than £600 every week.

A fans' forum, held on Monday, attracted just 38 supporters and Pearce is calling for the support of the town to keep the side in Blue Square South.

He said: "The fans' forum went very well, but unfortunately there were only 38 people there.

"We can't play at this level for much longer if that's the fan base we have.

"The town needs to decide whether they want this football club or not, because they are in danger of losing it."

Pearce confirmed Johnson had signed on loan for Worthing. The midfielder had been forced to settle for a substitutes' role in recent weeks.