It aint over until it’s over for Worcester Wolves

While the attentions of some might be switching to the playoffs, there are plenty of reasons why it could be argued that this weekend is the biggest of the season so far for Worcester Wolves.

Assured of a top four finish, the highest in their top flight history, the Wolves have spent most of the season one place behind Champions Newcastle; and it will feel to the players and their fans alike as a position in the table that should be rightfully theirs.

However, that could all change come Sunday night as Worcester play arguably their two greatest foes all season  at the weekend with a home game against Riders preceding a trip to Plymouth. Paul James’ men came within one point of beating Newcastle last time out and within two points when they played at the Wolves’ University campus in February. These were games two and three in a 2-1 series defeat with Worcester taking the W away from Newcastle in their first meeting in the BBL this season.

Wolves have had no such luck against Leicester, and Saturday represents an opportunity for the Riders to make it 3-0 against their midlands rivals. Plymouth and Wolves have seen a lot of each other this season with Sunday’s game being their seventh meeting (Worcester have won four of these games) but Raiders’ trip to the BBL Cup Final at Worcester’s expense will still live in the memory of the team currently in second place.

This weekend is big for the Worcester Wolves because it could conclude with them securing the runners-up spot in the Championship and gaining recent wins over Leicester and Plymouth going in to the playoffs, or it could conclude with them losing the place in the league they have held for most of 2012 and knowing they have failed to beat Leicester at all this term going in to the playoffs.

They have to show on Saturday that they have learned from games one and two against Rob Paternostro’s men, and that is something Paul James has been able to evidence against other teams in recent months. James and his roster particularly learned lessons against Plymouth early on which they have put in to practice in winning three of the last four contests between the sides.

Any coach will tell you publicly that they don’t mind who they face in the post-season but you can rest assured that Worcester would much rather face the Guildford Heat, a team they have put away six times out of six this season than a Glasgow Rocks side with key players fit and back on the hardwood at the quarter-final stage. And while the Wolves would hope to take care of the Heat, their fans will be quietly hoping that Sterling Davis and Atiba Lyons can plot the downfall of Leicester and Plymouth. Before any of that though, Worcester’s hopes of playoff success start this Saturday with Coach James looking to plot his own downfall of both the Riders and the Raiders.