TCS Chester Jets make a border raid tonight, hoping their BBL title prospects won't end up on the rocks.

Head coach Paul Smith and his players are determined to keep their championship hopes alive in Glasgow against championship play-off winners Scottish Rocks, following Sunday's narrow home defeat by Newcastle Eagles.

It was a weekend of drama, with a one-point overtime win in Sheffield to reach the semi-finals of the BBL Trophy on Saturday, followed by a one-point loss on Sunday.

'This team is not going to let me have a nice easy first season,' said Smith. 'We don't have many big wins or big losses to anybody, they're all close.

'It was very, very dramatic, and fun to be involved in both games, to be honest.'

Now the Jets make the trip north of the border, and Smith is expecting a hard night.

'We watched the Rocks on tape on Wednesday and we will need to jump on them and seize the momentum,' he said.

'It was disappointing to lose on Sunday, but we have done well to win eight of our last 10 matches. The players are very upbeat and know what they have to do.'

Smith has a worry about John McCord, who is still suffering soreness in a knee following a car crash. He will probably play this weekend, but may have to see a specialist.

Smith said: 'The knee stiffens up after a game, which was probably why he struggled on Sunday, after having led us so well in Sheffield.'

The coach is thinking of resting McCord on Sunday week when the Jets meet Leicester Riders in their final BBL Trophy group match. This is now a dead tie and Smith is set to give a start to promising Merseysider Richard Murphy.

'We have a duty to our fans to treat the game seriously, but it will be an opportunity to have a look at Richard and maybe give John a break,' said Smith.

Before that Jets are at the Northgate Arena on Sunday (5.30pm tip-off) to meet Birmingham Bullets, who go into the weekend without a point in the BBL Championship.

With Birmingham looking for a first win to kick-start their season, Smith is keen to ensure his team don't enter this contest with any complacency.

He said: 'There is a huge danger that guys look at their record and underestimate them, and we've got to make sure that does not happen. In this league you can't take anyone lightly.'

Chester won their previous meeting 93-80, and haven't lost a home game to Birmingham since January 2001. Calvin Davis has been voted by the fans as the BBL player of the month for November, when he was rated as the best player in the BBL statistically.

The highlight of the month was Davis's 38 points and 17 rebounds in a BBL Trophy game against Leicester.

Paul Smith and former Jet Robbie Peers, now with London Towers, were pipped for the coach of the month award by Scottish Rocks' Steve Swanson. The semi-finals of the BBL Trophy will be at Ponds Forge Sports Centre, Sheffield, on Saturday, February 7. The final is on Saturday, March 13. Ticket inquiries to 08453 457890.