WITH less than a third of their season remaining, Solent Stars must turn giant-killers if they are to qualify for the end-of-season play-offs in English Basketball Division 1.

Their remaining games pit them against some of the top teams in the league - starting with tonight's trip to third-placed Reading Rockets at the Rivermede Leisure Centre (7.45pm).

It will be the fifth meeting of the teams in league and cup this season and Solent's only victory was an 82-72 success in the pre-season Southern Challenge Cup.

Stars lost the home league encounter 89-70 when their coach, Alan Cunningham, pictured, was disqualified. Ironically, he serves a one-match ban in tonight's return. Assistant Steve Chant will take over.

Cunningham will be back at helm on Saturday when the tenth-placed Stars host another of the top sides, London United, at Fleming Park (8pm).

London last week defeated Reading 110-98 in an overtime thriller in the capital.

Solent suffered a similar defeat in London, 110-88, earlier in the season, but hope that the recent inclusion of American Larry Parker will add to their scoring power and defensive ability.