Basketball: Russians are tall order for Towers

London Towers must scale unprecedented heights in this season's European Cup campaign when they face Autodor Saratov, of Russia, at Wembley tonight, particularly in the shape of the visitors' two 7ft tall centres.

London qualified for the last 32 knock-out stage before Christmas, but the penalty for finishing only fourth in their group is to face the group winners, Saratov, who lost just once in their 10 qualifying games.

Seven-footer Gintara Einikis won an Olympic bronze medal in Atlanta with his Lithuanian and Saratov team-mate, Darius Luminkas.

To comply with European regulations, the Towers coach, Kevin Cadle, has to leave out Keith Robinson and Tony Windless from his Stateside quartet, and 6ft 11in Neville Austin and 6ft 9in Joe Hooks are his tallest players to face Saratov.