VICTORY is imperative for Worcester Wolves tonight if they are to maintain hopes of reaching the National Basketball League Division One play-offs.

The Wolves take on Oxford Devils at University College Worcester (7pm) in joint seventh place, with the top eight teams progressing.

But a run of five defeats has put Wolves' hopes in jeopardy, and they suffered their heaviest defeat of the season, 104-59, at Oxford back in January.

Coach Rick Solvason is urging Wolves to rediscover their form, and believes their return home after three successive away games will help them.

He said: "We are hanging by a thread in the play-off positions and we desperately need a couple of wins out of the last four.

"Oxford are third and we have Derbyshire in the last game who are top, and we also play a couple of rival teams.

"We haven't been playing well of late, but I don't think there is any question that we play much better at home and that will make a big difference tonight.

"We have a chance against any team, but we all have to pull together, especially in front of our own crowd."

Wolves have a full squad available including Colin Chiverton, who is celebrating his selection for the English Universities team.

Chiverton, who is studying at UCW, will appear in the Great Britain Championships in Exeter, which also feature Scotland, Ireland and Wales and which start on Monday.

The former Nunnery Wood High and Worcester Sixth Form College student, who also played for Birmingham, has been a key player for the Wolves since their formation.