HEAD coach Paul James has set his sights on a place in the BBL Trophy final as Worcester Wolves look to kickstart a run in the competition with victory at Bristol Flyers tonight (7.30pm).

Wolves were crowned winners in 2014 after defeating Glasgow Rocks, and James says he has high hopes ahead of his side’s Trophy opener at the WISE Basketball Arena in Stoke Gifford.

They also visit Cheshire Phoenix in the British Basketball League less than 24 hours later but James, who is set to welcome back fit-again forward Perris Blackwell, says they are fully focused on knocking out Bristol.

“The Trophy is a very important competition for us, so we want to progress to the next round,” he said.

“It is going to be a tricky game as Bristol are a very tough team on their own floor but I think we have been playing well of late.

“We just need to go out there with a lot of confidence and continue doing what we have been. The Trophy is another competition that is there to be won.

“Obviously we won it a couple of years ago, so it would be quite nice to get back to a final again and we will need to win three games to do that.”

After taking on Bristol, Worcester will then make a 170-mile trip to Cheshire Phoenix, where James will have a score to settle.

Cheshire stunned Wolves 94-76 at the University of Worcester Arena in November but James believes his side have come on in leaps and bounds since that defeat.

“Cheshire have been a thorn in our side over the years,” said James, whose side tip-off at the Northgate Arena at 5.30pm.

“They are a team who have been really up and down this season but when we last met they played very well against us.

“At that point, we did not have a direction, so when the onslaught came from Cheshire it was unexpected and we couldn’t respond.

“We were looking for players to step up in that situation and fight back but we didn’t do that very well and Cheshire ran riot.

“But sometimes you have got to go through a bit of pain and failure to move on and improve and I think that’s what we have done.

“With the addition of Orlan (Jackman), defensively we are more solid than we were then and there is more about us now.”