WORCESTER Wolves can virtually guarantee their place in the quarter-finals of the National Basketball Trophy tomorrow.

Victory in their away match against Team Bath Romans (6.30) would make it four wins in five group matches and make it almost certain that the Wolves will reach the last eight of the competition for the first time.

Defeat, however, would leave Wolves needing to win a daunting final match at Plymouth Raiders next Sunday to stand any chance of progress.

But having beaten Bath 83-72 at home earlier this week, Wolves are optimistic of recording a rare success on their travels.

Player-coach Rick Solvason said: "If we win we put ourselves in the best position, and we have to approach the game with complete confidence.

"We didn't play as well as we would have liked the other night, but we won the game fairly comfortably and if we play a lot better, it is a game we definitely should win."

The only trouble is that tomorrow's game is away from home, and including last season, the Wolves have lost 10 successive matches on their travels, compared with an excellent record at their own University College Worcester base.

Solvason added: "We just need to have a win on the road, and this is as good a chance as any. We need to relax -- this is a team we should feel confident against -- and if we can't get a win here we are going to struggle."

Wolves have a full squad to choose from and Solvason is delighted with the way his newcomers are settling in, with particular praise for American Josh Cooprider and defensive star Paul Gerald.

He said: "Josh has definitely found his shooting eye now and Paul has been a major player for his defensive tenacity, his rebounding ability and the way he spurs on everybody coming off the bench. Those two definitely stand out as far as the new players that are making an impression."

Meanwhile, Birmingham Bullets and Essex Leopards served up a 83-81 over-time thriller in their BBL Trophy group clash. Bullets won the tie with a Steve Bucknall free-throw four seconds from the end of the extra period.