WORCESTER Wolves' quest to reach the summit of basketball in England begins tonight.

Wolves finished fourth in England Basketball League Division One -- the reward for their efforts since September.

Now they host Worthing Thunder in a quarter-final clash (7pm), with a possible two-legged semi-final against City of Sheffield Arrows at stake.

There is little to choose between Wolves and Worthing, both having recorded a resounding victory over each other in the two league meetings. But Worthing, who finished fifth, were among the Division One favourites before the campaign started and will be out to live up to that tag.

Director of basketball Mick Donovan said: "Everyone's backing Worthing to go through so that motivates us even more.

"We have trained well and we will be up for it."

Donovan, however, believes this is the perfect chance to show the basketball public just how far Wolves have come.

"This is the chance to put Worcester on the map," he added. "At the start of the season our target was to make the top four.

"Now it's one-off games. We have said we can beat anybody on the day. Now it's time to put our money where our mouths are."

The game is also the opportunity for some of Worcester's stars, boosted by the news Ty Shaw will return after his Australia adventure, to show a bumper crowd what they are capable of.

Donovan said: "Players like Matt Collins, Ty Shaw and Josh Cooprider will revel in it and they will be the main three we look at for experience.

"The atmosphere in the University College Worcester hall is fantastic and the players really respond to the support we get from Worcester people."

Play-offs: City of Sheffield Arrows v Essex and Herts; Reading Rockets v Manchester; Worcester v Worthing; London United v Teesside Mohawks.