Basketball: Old foes set to do battle as Kings host Troon Tornadoes

One of the longest running and most intense rivalries in Scottish basketball resumes tomorrow when Edinburgh Kings entertain Troon Tornadoes at Portobello High School (1pm).

Unbeaten in the Scottish League so far with three wins under their belts, Kings were less than impressive in beating Glasgow Storm away last Sunday and coach Danny Costello will have to do without two key players from his preferred starting five, Michael Kirkpatrick, who has still not recovered fom the ankle injury he sustained against Stirling Knights, and Edgars Rekis, who is unavailable.

In addition, guard Craig Reilly is still suffering from an Achilles tendon injury.

Mutual respect between the coaches only serves to whet the appetite when Costello and Troon coach Tom Campbell lock horns.

"Tom always pulls out the stops to get his strongest team out against us and one thing we know is that he will have his team buzzing and playing hard defence," says Costello, who singles out Troon teenager Josh Crolley as potentially the biggest threat.

"Josh is quite a mobile big man," says Costello, who was able to put the young Scottish centre under close scrutiny when he played for Scotland in the Euro C campaign in Malta last July and was one of the few successes.

"He will give Simon (Flockhart) and Liam (McCabe) a busy afternoon."

Another visiting newcomer is the former Glasgow City junior Johnny Petit.

Troon had an even worse result than Kings in slumping to a surprise defeat at home to St Mirren last weekend after leading 10-1 at the start and coach Campbell will be anxious there is no repeat tomorrow.

Edinburgh Kool Kats, who at last got off the mark by beating Falkirk Fury away, travel north on Sunday to play a Grampian Flyers team still celebrating their first ever victory in three years in the senior women's league, when they beat St Maurice's Rocks.

Kats will need to hit top form early and stay in it to avoid potential embarrassment.