Leopards will open the 2007/8 season at Wodson Park on Saturday September 29 when they host College of West Anglia Fury in the National Trophy group stage.

The competition – which all 12 EBL Division One side compete in – follows a similar format to last season, with two groups of six clubs playing each other once. The winner of each group plays at home against the runner-up from the other section in a one-game semi-final.

With each side having five games, the teams who finished in the top half of last season’s Division One getting the extra home group game, so the Big Cats have three home games in the competition.

Leopards have a good record against Fury, who were known as Kings Lynn Fury until this summer, having won all three competitive games between the clubs as well as three pre-season games over the last two years. The Big Cats’ second game in the Trophy sees them travel to old foes Sheffield Arrows, where they will look to repeat last season’s 80-76 league victory before hosting Division One newcomers Taunton Tigers on Saturday October 13.

Jon Burnell’s team face their toughest game of the competition the following Saturday when they travel to Division One champions Worthing Thunder, before wrapping up their fixtures on Saturday October 27 when Solent Stars are the visitors to Wodson Park.

“It’s a tough group, but it’s definitely one we can qualify from” said general manager Dave Ryan. “On paper, the hardest two games are away from home, at Sheffield and Worthing, but we’re confident we can challenge for a place in the semi-final.”

Fury are also the visitors to Wodson Park for the opening EBL Division One game on Saturday November 3, before traveling to newly promoted Bristol Academy Flyers the following week.