SOLENT Stars are bidding to make it three wins in a row when they travel to Coventry Crusaders for an English Basketball League Division 1 basement battle tonight.

Coventry are eleventh in the league table, one place below the Stars, having won just two EBL games all season.

Even so, they still hold a psychological advantage over Alan Cunningham's travel-sick side, who have twice lost at the hands of the Midlanders in league and cup and are without an away win.

Crusaders won their league visit to Fleming Park 64-57 in October and then dealt Solent another defeat, 99-72, in the National Trophy at Coventry in December.

Since then, however, Coventry have been rocked by the loss of their influential guard, Matt Collins, to Worcester Wolves, while Solent's confidence has grown after home victories over Worcester and Teesside Mohawks.

Last week on-song Americans Larry Parker and Marlin Capers shared 66 of Solent's points in the 86-81 scalping of the Mohawks.

Now Solent will be looking to Mark Jackson, Paul Silcox, Phil Long and Ollie Marsh to also get amongst the points in a vital league game that could steer them towards the play-offs.

Tomorrow Solent's men's second team travel to Bethnal Green Sports Centre to play TH London Eagles (4pm).

Coach Mick Byrne plans to include both the under-18 players, Joel Freeland and Liam Openshaw, who debuted in last week's convincing victory over Brixton Topcats.

"Our team will be at full strength for the first time this season with the return of Andy Aung and Liam Wyatt," said Byrne.

London Eagles, a team with a good mix of eastern European players, currently lie mid-table with a 5-5 win/loss record.

Tomorrow's game will provide Stars with good preparation for next week's top-of-the-table clash against Westside at Fleming Park (6pm) - a fixture that might well decide the destination of the Division 3 East championship trophy.