Gary Smith today told his BBL-bound club: "Let's finish this season in style."

Thunder will accept an offer from the BBL to bring top-flight basketball back to Sussex for the first time since 2006.

They play their last regular season game in the England Basketball League tomorrow night when they tackle London Leopards at Ware (7.30).

Third-placed Thunder are already assured of a home tie in the play-off quarter-finals and coach Smith wants them to go into the post-season with a win. He said: "There's a nice feel at the club right now. It's buzzing. This is something else.

"We need to make sure we get things in order but I'm sure we will do that with the people we have around the place.

"We have still got to finish this season as strong as we can and try to win something.

"We've not written this season off as far as winning a trophy goes."

Smith, whose side are missing injured American shooting guard James Mooney for the rest of the season, expects Leopards to be dangerous as they chase a home play-off seeding.

He added: "They need to beat us but we are coming off a loss and need to win this game to give us a boost going into the play-offs."

Thunder's play-off game will be at home to either Derby or Sheffield on Saturday, April 5, (8pm), almost certainly the final EBL fixture at the Leisure Centre.

Incoming directors met on Thursday to discuss their move into the BBL.

Smith, himself a director, said: "The mood at the meeting seemed to be a confident one. We no longer had Plan B hanging over us.

"We've spoken about how we want to do things. It's positive."