Fitness tests for influential Wolves stars (From Worcester News)

Fitness tests for influential Wolves stars

8:00am Saturday 20th March 2010 in

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WORCESTER Wolves head coach Paul James will run late fitness tests on Harry Disy and Rod Middleton before tonight’s British Basketball League home clash with Guildford Heat (7pm).

The duo were expected to miss last night’s clash at Sheffield Sharks with ankle injuries but the former Heat chief is hopeful the pair can take some part in facing his old employers at the University of Worcester.

Forward Disy twisted his ankle at the British Universities and Colleges Sport Championships in Sheffield last week while playing for the university, while star point guard Middleton injured his ankle in training on Tuesday.

Guard Modestas Sidlauskas also injured his ankle in Sheffield last week but James is less confident about the Lithuanian’s recovery.

“Out of the three, Modestas is likely to be out the longest.”

Paul James

“Out of the three, Modestas is likely to be out the longest,” James said.

“Hopefully, we can get Harry and Rod back on the court for the Guildford game. All three have been undergoing intensive treatment this week.”

Wolves are desperate to claim victory over the team that James won every BBL honour with to keep their slim hopes of a play-off place alive.

Prior to last night’s outing in South Yorkshire, Wolves were eight points behind eighth-placed Worthing Thunder with three games in hand.

Another setback for Wolves on home soil would all but end any realistic hope they have of extending their campaign.

James, who only took charge at Wolves in December following an alleged race row which left the team in turmoil, is expecting a tough encounter, despite Heat not being the same force they were during his four-year tenure.

“Our game against the Heat will be tough,” the 45-year-old added.

“We have not played to the best of our ability against those teams in and around us in the league table.

“The Heat are another team who still have an outside chance of making the play-offs so this will be a tough game.”

The game with Guildford is also the Wolves’ charity match of the season and this year they are supporting MacMillan Cancer Support.