SOLENT Stars are on the trail of two of their "old guard" ahead of this weekend's testing cup double header.

Eddie Owusu is negotiating a transfer back along the coast from Worthing and experienced former skipper Martin Dowdall hopes to sign in time for next Saturday's National Trophy return game at home Cardiff Clippers.

Both are guards and, as club director Jim Rumsey points out: "It's a position that needs strengthening because the two present guards have scored less than 20 points this season."

Veteran campaigner Paul Philp makes his debut as assistant coach at Fleming Park tonight (8pm) where Stars - without a win in three outings this term - take on Plymouth Raiders in the National Trophy Pool B - the first of five meetings between the clubs.

Reigning player-of-the-year Chris Harper should hopefully be back after the birth of a son last Sunday, as should the vastly experienced Mike Griffiths.

The most taxing of weekends continues at the Aston Villa Leisure Centre tomorrow (6pm) where Solent face an awesome National Cup first round assignment against the mighty Birmingham Bullets, leaders of the BBL Championship Southern Conference.

Unlike Solent, the Bullets have a free Saturday and their already formidable side has been strengthened by the signing of 6ft 10in former England centre Danny Craven who recently ended more than a decade with Manchester Giants.

"Just think, with no other game to worry about they can concentrate all their efforts on us!" said Rumsey. "It's times like this when you feel like the poor relations of basketball - particularly when you see that the other two NBL Conference sides in the National Cup have both got home draws."