WORCESTER Wolves can issue a major statement of intent by securing two crucial British Basketball League victories this weekend.

Paul James’ title-chasing side, who are two points behind leaders Newcastle Eagles, host Manchester Giants tonight (7.30pm) before visiting Cheshire Phoenix on Sunday (5.30pm).

Two wins would give Wolves the head-to-head record against both teams, which would give them the edge should the sides finish level on points at the end of the season.

Wolves are locked at 1-1 against Manchester, after bouncing back from a surprise 93-83 early season loss in the north-west to triumph 90-81 at the University Arena last month, and defeated fourth-placed Cheshire 83-67 in October.

Director of basketball James said: “We want to win all the head-to-heads if we possibly can and if you do that you’ve got a good chance of winning the league.

“If we can come away with four points and those head-to-heads that would be massive for us moving forward.

“It’s a huge weekend for us and we want to go into this Christmas period on a high and having won games like that. They are two very winnable games but we’ve got to be at our best to get them both.”

The Wolves chief continued: “Manchester are a tough team, we know that if we take them lightly they’ve got some really good players who can shoot us out of the game.

“We’ve got to continue doing a good defensive job, chase people off the three-point line and force them to do things that they don’t want to do. If we do that, we’ll give ourselves a chance of winning the head-to-head.”

Cheshire are on a six-game winning streak and pushing for a top-four place in the table.

James said: “We beat them earlier in the season but they’re a completely different team now so it’s like playing a brand new side.

“They are at home and it’s going to be an exceptionally tough game. They have made some changes for the better and are on a really rich vein of form.

“They could be one of the hottest teams in the league next to Newcastle so that’s going to be an exceptional challenge for us but one that we’re looking forward to.”

Wolves have a clean bill of health for the weekend but are still searching for a power forward to replace Lithuanian centre Donatas Visockis.