SOLENT Stars are in danger of being caught 'off-guard' for this weekend's home double-header in the National Conference.

The south coast club have fitness doubts over court commander Mark Jackson and his fellow guard Anthony Rutter.

Team captain Jackson picked up an ankle injury at Plymouth a fortnight ago and aggravated it in Stars' one-point defeat at Oxford last Saturday.

The Millbrook lad missed training on Tuesday and will leave it as late as possible before tonight's (Saturday's) visit of Ware Rebels (Fleming Park, 8pm) to decide if he's playing or not.

Rutter is in a similar position having turned his ankle in training. He missed the Oxford match and is looking doubtful both for tonight and tomorrow's (Sunday, 3pm) mouth-watering game against the unbeaten reigning champions Teesside Mohawks, who have already won the National Trophy this season.

It begins a tricky run of three consecutive games against top-three teams with Worthing (away) and Plymouth (home) to follow.

Solent's visit to Teesside in November resulted in a high-scoring 123-107 defeat. Since then Stars have acquired the services of a second American, Howard Jackson, who has demonstrated that he can put points on the board.

For Teesside, dangerman Ralph Bucci will need to be closely guarded, while ex-Basketball League player Jason Swaine will pose another threat with his long-range shooting.

Tonight's visitors Ware should prove an easier proposition for Mark Scott's men. The Hertfordshire side, who were last seen in Eastleigh in the mid-1990s, have only one win to their credit in their first season as a Conference club.

They have been hit by injuries to ex-Solent player Mike Sableski and club captain Allan Prescott, but hope at least one will be fit for tonight.

Solent's Trevor Donaldson, who last played in December, has returned from holiday and Solent will look to him and their other American Dominique Jones to provide baskets from outside the three-point line.