Kings to march into clash with Saints minus star Flockhart

EDINBURGH KINGS' Scottish international centre Simon Flockhart will miss tomorrow's vital Scottish basketball league home game against St Mirren at Portobello High School due to a flare-up of the calf injury which has troubled him for the last two months.

Flockhart may have paid the price for bravely helping an understrength Kings defeat Glasgow Storm at Scotstoun last Sunday: "I think Si is keen to play but I took the decision to leave him out," said Kings coach Danny Costello.

"He was virtually playing on one leg last Sunday and just can't risk doing further damage."

Leaving out the 6ft 9in pivot is a big gamble for the champions as Saints are one of only two teams, the others were Troon on the opening day of the season, to have beaten Kings this season and a home defeat in the 2pm game tomorrow would let the Paisley men back into the title race.

But coach Costello believes he has the players to match up and do the job, particularly as guard Laurie Costello and centre Liam McCabe are both available after missing the Storm game.

"We play Saints in Paisley on the final weekend of the league season but if we win tomorrow that game could be academic as they'll have lost five games to our two."

Another Kings star suffering after returning from injury is Lee Reilly, whose presence was vital in their rout of St Mirren in the league last weekend but who is a doubtful starter for the trip to play Glasgow Rens tomorrow.

East Lothian Peregrines had a disappointing trip to Paisley to face Saints last Saturday going down by 30 points but they are a different proposition at home at Musselburgh Sports Centre where they entertain Falkirk Fury tonight (8pm) still chasing that elusive first win.