Rob Newson has revealed three keys to Worthing Thunder causing a BBL Trophy upset.

Thunder, the only lower-league club in the competition, host top-flight new boys London Capitals in their first group game tomorrow (Saturday, 8.00) Wins over BBL opponents for EBL teams are very rare but Newson reckons his unbeaten team can do it, if they are at their best.

The Thunder assistant coach said: "We've got every chance. We've had a scouting report about some of their key players. They've got a couple of Americans who can really shoot and a Dutch big guy."

Newson will tell his men to:

  • Deny big Harvey Van Stein the ball inside.
  • Clamp down on shooters Sam Bradley and Wes Miller.
  • Get out and run in transition.

Thunder are likely to make plentiful use of the full court press, something they worked on in practice this week.

Newson, who will be pitting his coaching wits against former LA Laker Steve Bucknall, said: "It's important we do well to set us up for big games we have coming up.

"There's not a lot of pressure on us."

Capitals are the only club to have beaten Thunder in the last nine months, in the first leg of last season's EBL play-offs, though Worthing won on aggregate.

Pat Bates returns for Worthing.

Thunder's National Cup semi-final with Reading has been switched to the former home court of Thames Valley Tigers in Bracknell. The game takes place next Saturday with a 7.30pm tip-off.