One of British basketball's fiercest rivalries resumes tonight as Leicester Riders face a tough test at Milton Keynes Lions (7.30).

This will be the fifth time this season the squads have faced each other with the season series tied at 2-2.

While Riders won handsomely against Durham last weekend, the Lions went down to a surprise defeat at Cheshire, leaving them in joint sixth place in the table.

"I don't read too much into that result," said Riders coach Rob Paternostro.

"They were without Daniel Northern through suspension and Adrien Sturt through injury, and it's hard enough to win on the road in this league when you are at full strength.

"In Demarius Bolds and Northern, they have two of the most talented players in the BBL, but you cannot sleep on the supporting cast, or someone like Stefan Gill will light you up, as he did on our first trip down there this season.

"You can ignore their record, they have one of the most talented sides in the league."

Sturt hit a game-winning three-pointer at the John Sandford Centre last month, but he may well still be missing tonight with a hip problem.

Riders showed tremendous character to lead in the dying seconds, having trailed 35-10 early on, and Paternostro, pictured, is hoping his side will make a better start this time around.

"First and foremost we have to try not to give them a 25-point head start," he said.

"Credit to them because they jumped on us early and we didn't react. They are so effective in transition, they can put points on the board in a hurry. We responded well, but you have to tip your hat to Sturt for hitting that shot at the end.

"I liked the way we went about our business at Durham last Sunday, we committed to defence right from the opening tip and we'll have to do that again tonight.

"Offensively, the ball-movement was very good, both in the half-court and in transition. When we move the ball like that we become very difficult to defend.

"We will need to be just as good at finding the open man against a Lions side who are right up at the top of the league in steals."

Lions: Fontaine, Gill, Josey, Bolds, Pedroso, Northern, Bernard, Schall, Tawiah, Crawford, Sturt, Youngblood.

Riders: Hardy, Lamble, Wierzbicki, Rundles, Anderson, Sherlock, Williams, Daley, Sullivan, Royster, Haggith, Washington.