Thursday Preview

The defending champions have the best record in the tournament this season, winning 15 of their 16 matches and will virtually seal a place in the quarter-finals with a third successive Top 16 win.

The Russians will again be without David Vanterpooldue to a back injury while the hosts, champions in 1997, must do without Ryan Stack who is sidelined with a foot injury.

A CSKA win would allow DKV Joventut to move clear in second in Group E with a victory at Partizan Belgrade.

The Spanish outfit face anxious waits on the fitness of Roberto Dueñas and Elmer Bennett while the Serbs will look to bounce back from last week's dismal offensive showing against Moscow.

Benetton Treviso have the chance to make it a three-way log-jam at the top of Group G if they win in Greece against Aris Thessaloniki who have a fitness doubt concerning guard Giorgos Kalaitzis.

Barcelona can cement second spot in Group F with a home win over Efes of Istanbul.

The hosts will again not have the services of Mario Kasun but the Turks have greater concerns with starters Horace Jenkins and Cenk Akyol rated as questionable,

Maccabi Tel Aviv, Euroleague champions in two of the past three seasons, can solidify their status as the second best team in Group D and are double digit point favourites when they host Pau.

The French outfit have not won a Top 16 game in three years and must try and stymie Week 2 MVP Jamie Arnold who weighed in with 17 points and 12 rebounds against Roma off the bench.