But given how the Muscovites brushed aside their Spanish opponents in the first two games of their quarter-final tie, it is difficult to see the Army Men not wrapping up their best of five series next time out in game three.

The key to CSKA's success has been keeping Euroleague MVP Tiago Splitter quiet. The Brazilian, who is so crucial to Caja's offence, has only been able to muster 21 points over the two games.

CSKA have been helped by their usual miserly defense and big contributions from key players – Ramunas Siskauskas and Viktor Khryapa – but also from the likes of Andrey Vorontsevich and Sasha Kaun, who are both having break-out seasons.

The depth of the Army Men's roster over the first two games has meant that Caja Laboral are simply unable to keep up at such a high tempo over 40 minutes of basketball.

If the Spanish outfit from Vitoria are going to have any hope of moving through to the final four, they have to stop CSKA's rampant offense.

Zoran Planinic knows more than a thing or two about the team from Vitoria, having played for the Spanish side for two seasons. And although the Army Men have been a class above their Spanish rivals in the first two games, the Croat point guard, warns things will be very different come game three.

CSKA are firmly in the driving seat in their quarter-final tie with Caja Laboral, needing just one more victory to make what would be an astounding eighth consecutive Final Four appearance, to be held in Paris this time. And if the Army Men play with anything like the intensity they have shown in games one and two, they should have few problems in wrapping up the tie, in either of games three or four.