WORCESTER Wolves face the dilemma of having to choose between two of their star players for the biggest match of the season.

The UCW-based side are torn between playing either captain Josh Cooprider or forward Ty Shaw for Sunday's home National Cup quarter-final against Nottingham Knights.

A new ruling, brought in for the first time in this year's competition, only allows the use of one American player in the fixture because the Knights are from a lower division. They are currently second in English Basketball League Division Two.

And that means either Cooprider, currently free-scoring in Division One, or the influential Shaw will have to sit out the chance of steering Wolves to a semi-final place.

As with the US presidential election on Tuesday, where the American public chose between George W Bush and John Kerry, so Wolves chiefs must now vote for either Cooprider or Shaw.

Wolves, who sit fourth in the table, became aware of the situation before the event started and had even considered pulling out because of it.

Director of basketball Mick Donovan said the rule handicapped the team and added: "We are not happy with it because can you imagine the uproar in the FA Cup if Arsenal could not play Dennis Bergkamp or Thierry Henry?

"We even thought about withdrawing because we were not happy with it. I am a big believer in not fielding a team of foreigners but we can also learn from them. I think two is a good number."

As well as a team dilemma, it is also a personal one for the players concerned as both currently hold down a regular starting place.

"They are quite angry," Donovan added. "They are both first five players and without getting too technical about it, it disrupts our pattern.

"Ty normally has the biggest impact but Josh has scored nearly 90 points in the last three games."

Wolves are likely to leave their decision until the last minute to see how the duo come through Saturday's Division One encounter at Worthing Thunder.

Donovan is also hoping to have the Knights watched before Sunday's showdown in an effort to make the selection process easier.