ATHENS (Basketball Champions League) - Looking for evidence of parity in the Basketball Champions League? Just take a gander at Group E, which has a couple of teams - AEK and MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg - squaring off in the Game of the Week on Tuesday in Greece.

AEK, a big-name team expected by many to go on a deep run into the Play-Offs and possibly challenge for the title, are on shaky ground with six wins and five defeats. 

With three rounds to go in the Regular Season, AEK are fourth and they could have a rough ride coming against MHP Riesen, who prevailed in the first meeting in Germany between the two sides, 72-67, on 16 November.

Besiktas Sompo Japan (9-2) are at the top of Group E with MHP Riesen (8-3) in close pursuit. Next come Partizan, winners of four straight, at 7-4. Nipping at the heels of AEK are Dinamo Sassari (5-6).

The top four sides from each of the five eight-team groups will seal spots in the Play-Offs, as well as the four best fifth-place teams.

AEK will be thinking their backs are against the wall after last week. The team travelled to Sardinia with an opportunity to lower the boom on Dinamo Sassari but fell, 80-78.

There is not much room for error for the club coached by Jure Zdovc. 

The prospects are considerably brighter for MHP Riesen. Since an 86-82 defeat at Partizan on Gameday 8, the club has reeled off three straight victories in the Basketball Champions League.

Last week, the team coach by John Patrick rolled to a big home win over Proximus Spirou.

American forward Drew Crawford, who had 12 rebounds and came up a point shy of a double-double last week for MHP Riesen, predicts a hard-fought encounter in Greece.

"AEK Athens is, of course, a strong opponent," he said. "We have to play with self-confidence. When we play together as a team and move the ball well, we are stronger. That is exactly what we must show in Athens."

One of the players that has literally been taking off of late for MHP Riesen and should have his say in Athens is Kelvin Martin.

Martin has been averaging 12.1ppg and 5.8rpg this season in the Basketball Champions League.