Thunder keeping metal under wraps

The Barkers (Tarring) outfit have debut-making visitors for the second time in a month when Bristol Academy Flyers maketheir first visit to the Thunderdome. Ask any fan what Derby did on their maiden trip to Worthing on February 2, and you will be touching a raw nerve because Trailblazers ended Thunder's two-year unbeaten home record - yet can hardly buy a victory since.

On that same weekend, Bristol nearly toppled Manchester Magic, Thunder's 3-peat league title rivals this season at Filton in overtime, so Worthing players and supporters will be turning up on Saturday with alarm bells ringing in their ears.

Get through that unscathed and Thunder can go to Solihull next day to re-match against Coventry Crusaders, their 96-82 victims this Sunday past after an iffy performance, 12 points down, but rescued by 24-point guard James Mooney, 22 from centre Pat Bates and 18 from forward Cleve Woodfork.

Ryan Luethy and Keith Sudler were Crusaders's troublesome duo and Thunder's methods of containing them in the second half will provide a starting point for their pre-match preparations on them this time.

Bristol ran Thunder close 85-89 defeat in Bristol in November with 7ft 1in Adam Simons leading Flyers with 25 points. Worthing expect he and fellow American Ryan Williams, who netted 24 points that night, to be the main dangers again.

Ryan Marrast, who had 21 points at Filton, will on Saturday start the three-match suspension that takes him out of the National Trophy Final against Reading Rockets at Manchester on March 2. So Thunder have these two games to learn how to operate without him coming off the bench and adding effective outside shooting as well as solid basics, and cope with the gap he leaves in the plan.

Demetrius Scott appears to be back to full fitness, and he was Thunder's top scorer in the first match with 22 - though he made only six against Coventry in his 31 minutes on court. However, in that time he collected 10 rebounds, eight off the defensive board, and gave five assists.

Tickets for Saturday's game, which tips off at 8pm, are available on the door and are priced at 7 adults, 5 juniors and a family ticket costs 19.

National Trophy Final travel details are available from Dave Marshall on 01903 529241.