Pat Bates is aiming for a double celebration with Worthing Thunder.

The former Brighton Bears centre had his 24th birthday yesterday but the real celebrations will come if Barker (Tarring) Thunder clinch National Trophy qualification against odds.

To progress, Thunder must win at Essex and Herts Leopards tonight, then do the same at Reading Rockets tomorrow.

Even then, they will only go through if they beat Reading by 19 or more points.

It looks a tall order but 6ft 9in Bates said: "If we play well I we can do it.

"I think we are the most talented team in the league.

"The season has been going really well. Everyone gets on with each other and we play as a team.

"The focus is on playing good defence and the big guys have a major role getting blocks and rebounds. That's so important because we've got a lot of people who can score."

Bates, who combines playing for Thunder with being a porter at Worthing Hospital, is relishing the chance to get more minutes.

Last season he was used sparingly by Bears and struggled to get court time after a switch to Thunder.

He said: "I didn't get the minutes I wanted because I came in late.

"That's the coach's decision and I didn't say anything at the time but I'm glad to be playing more now. I feel I've done what has been expected of me so far."

But Bates, who had three years of division two American college basketball at Belmont Abbey, insists he has no immediate plans to try and move to a more senior club.

Ciaran Burns returns to the Thunder line-up tonight after misisng last weeks' Trophy defeat to Bears.