IT'S make or break time for play-off seeking Solent Stars tonight as they head into a vital match at London Paws.

Both teams have ten league points and lie just outside the eighth and final play-off position currently occupied by Essex & Herts Leopards on 12.

Paws won by ten points at Fleming Park back in November but Solent have been strengthened since then by American Larry Parker, who has amassed more than 300 points in his 12 games for the Hampshire club.

Parker, though, is not beyond criticism and coach Alan Cunningham took him out of the game at intervals in last Saturday's 124-93 defeat by London United.

Director Jim Rumsey explained: "Coach Cunningham felt that Parker was not gaining enough rebounds and not contributing enough to team play at times, so he benched him occasionally."

But he confirmed: "That situation was sorted out in training this week."

Only Paul Silcox, who has a heavy cold, remains a doubt for the fixture.

Solent men's second team travel to Bognor Pirates tonight (The Arena, Bognor College, 7pm) aiming to hold on to top spot in Division 3 East.

Although Bognor lie eighth in the league with a 4/10 won-loss record, Solent cannot afford to slip up if they are to grab the home play-off spot for the quarter-finals on April 2.

Only the league winners will be certain of a home draw and coach Mick Byrne is anxious to gain that advantage from the three league games remaining.

lWorthing Thunder scored a surprise National Trophy semi-final win over London United last weekend (76-75), meaning that Solent's first team must rearrange their home game against Worthing, scheduled for March 6.

With little time left in the season and Fleming Park unable to accommodate the game, Solent have been left with a massive fixture headache for a south coast derby that usually attracts their largest crowd of the season.

Meanwhile, the club is once again hosting the local Varsity game (Southampton University v Southampton Institute) on March 12 (4pm) ahead of its final home league fixtures for both men's teams.