SOLENT Stars are ready to stamp a Mark of experience on tonight's National Trophy third round clash with Sutton Pumas at Fleming Park (8pm).

Veteran Mark Scott is returning to the club that he has served so dependably on and off for well over a decade.

The 40-year-old Itchen College physical education teacher looked to have called time on his Solent career after helping Stars to the National League Division 1 title last term, averaging six rebounds a game.

But two months into the new season, the 6ft 6in former England and Worthing centre is ready for yet another comeback against a Sutton side who beat Solent home and away last season under their old guise of Guildford Pumas.

Scott's reappearance comes at an ideal time for Solent who have concerns about the fitness of rebound king Panji Grainger whose back problems forced him to retire halfway through last Saturday's Uni-ball Trophy defeat at Birmingham.

Furthermore, Scott provides an experienced and more reliable replacement for Cardiff-based youngster Sean Cameron whose brief stay at the club appears to be over.

Tom Sewell and Duane Martin, the twin spearheads of Guildford's Division 1 play-off success last season, are no longer part of Pumas' set-up, but Sutton still pose a threat.

In 7ft 2in Julian Cadette, they boast one of the tallest players in the country and Stars fans will remember American Mike Sableski who played for Solent and Portsmouth Pirates before joining Stevenage where his impressive rebound statistics placed him second in Division 1 last season.

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