HEAD coach Paul James insists his players will have to continue to “play out of position” until Worcester Wolves have secured the final two pieces of their jigsaw.

Following Deondre McWhorter’s departure last week, Wolves have stepped up their search to sign two “big men”.

However, they do not appear to be any closer to adding to their squad before Sunday’s British Basketball League Cup quarter-final clash against Surrey Scorchers at the University of Worcester Arena.

A depleted Wolves side won their third game of the season last weekend, beating bottom side Manchester Giants 91-84, and James admits being light on numbers is something they have been used to in the 2016/17 campaign.

“We have always been looking for that one big man since we started the season, but now we are looking for two big men, so I don’t think we have been anywhere near full strength this season,” said James, whose side have lost five of their eight matches this term.

“I think the other guys that we have got are tremendous talents, but they are having to play out of positions and maybe play more minutes than I would like them to play, but that’s just the way it is right now.

“We have just got to keep working hard and trying to pick up wins here and there while we do trying to put the two pieces in place.”

With Jermel Kennedy pulling out through illness, Wolves travelled with just seven players for their match against Manchester.

And James said he was delighted with the “very methodical” way they went about their business at the Trafford Sportsdome.

“I was really pleased with the performance at Manchester,” James said.

“We were short-handed anyway and then Jermel was unable to travel and play because of sickenss, so we won without one of our leading scorers and malisman,” he said.

“Regardless of where Manchester are in the table, they are a team that are very physical and they have pushed some good teams very closely, especially on their floor.

“Although they came back at us at the end, I don’t think we were in any danger of losing the game because of the start we had and the way we controlled it.”

He added: “It is important to try to pick up these wins, especially with where we are. We have lost one game which we have been really disappointed with.

“Everybody else are teams who have continuity, they are established. We have got two more opportunities to play them and it’s about winning those head to heads.”