TONIGHT marks the start of a key period in the British Basketball League season for Worcester Wolves.

We have three home games in a row and must get some points from them to keep our title challenge on track.

This evening sees the visit of league leaders Newcastle Eagles to the Univ-ersity of Worcester (7pm) before we entertain Plymouth Raiders next Sat-urday and Milton Keynes Lions the weekend after that.

It’s a crucial time for the team and the games don’t get any easier.

The last time Newcastle lost was against us in December and I think it will be a closer game this time.

They have won the BBL Cup already this season and are top of the league but we have aspirations of trying to win the title as well.

We have had a week to prepare for the Eagles match since the 74-73 defeat at Sheffield Sharks, when Arnas Kaz-lauskas bagged 15 points and Tommy Freeman 26, and it has been quite intense.

However, the emphasis has been more on our mental attitude and tactics than anything else.

We have tried to put a few things right that we didn’t do well against Sheffield and have also walked through our plays.

The players are pretty fit so we haven’t run as hard as we normally would because I want them to focus on the execution of our plays.

Hopefully, that approach will hold us in good stead. I am also hoping the crowd will help inspire us to do well.

The fans have played a huge part in our success so far this season and I am expecting a sell-out tonight.

Their support has been fantastic and become more vocal – they have also got behind us at the right times.

Hopefully, they will be as great as usual and I am sure Newcastle will bring a few with them as well.

With a smaller venue, it makes the court seem smaller than it is and we are used to that week in, week out. The Eagles, however, play in a large arena and won’t be used to it.

They have, though, won the league in three of the past four seasons and their successful formula has centred around the continuity of players.

Newcastle have also been around a lot longer than we have and year-on-year they have improved the squad but kept the nucleus of a team together.

Under the guidance of coach Fab Flournoy, they have been able to freshen the team up each season without making too many changes.