WORCESTER Wolves will be hoping to move into joint top spot in the National Basketball League Division One tonight.

The Wolves, currently in equal second place, travel to Mansfield (8pm) confident of their fourth win in five league matches, while leaders Westminster could come unstuck against Bath, one of two teams level on points with Wolves.

Player-coach Rick Solvason said: "We want to maintain our form. We've got a big game next weekend against London United and it would be nice to come home to a big crowd with a four and one record, playing against one of the top teams."

Wolves, who should be at full strength, had their confidence boosted by a home victory over Bath last weekend. Solvason added: "We didn't play particularly well throughout the game, particularly offensively, but were still able to get victory.

"We are starting to win some of the close games now which is good for us."

Solvason said of mid-table Mansfield: "They have quite a bit of experience in their side, and we have to impose the way we want to play, which is with pace, on them. Whichever team can dictate the pace of play will have an advantage."

Wolves' home game against Derbyshire, postponed last month due to their involvement in the National Trophy, will now be played on Saturday, February 15.

The away game against Bath scheduled for that day will now be on March 22.

Wolves have received a further boost with the news that Director of Operations Mick Donovan has achieved the highest coaching honour in English basketball.

Donovan, who helped found the club with businessman Roger Clark two years ago, has achieved senior coach status with the English Association, one of only 50 people in the country to hold the honour.

The honour was awarded by the EBBA following a year of consultation, looking at his experiences with teams, youth development and coach education.

Donovan, who has coached for 20 years, will now able to oversee coaching awards at a higher level and, with the Basketball Coaching Centre with the Wolves and University College Worcester, host coach education programmes and support coaching education development at all clubs in the region.