CAPTAIN Marek Klassen admits the odds are stacked against Worcester Wolves overhauling a 19-point deficit against Newcastle Falcons to secure their place in the BBL play-off final tonight (7.30pm).

But Klassen firmly believes they can overcome “a lot of adversity” to pull off “one of Worcester’s greatest ever wins” at the University of Worcester Arena.

Wolves have it all to do in the second leg of their semi-final after crashing to a 105-86 defeat at Newcastle on Wednesday night.

To make matters worse the team did not arrive home until 6am yesterday morning due to problems with their coach not starting.

And Worcester will be without head coach Paul James who will be attending his father’s funeral today.

But Klassen insists he is relishing the challenge as Wolves aim to make it to the O2 Arena.

“We are down by 20 points, are not going to have our coach and we got back at 6am so there is a lot of adversity,” he said.

“But that’s when you figure out what kind of team you have got. It was crazy the coach didn’t start but you have got to take it in your stride.

“Things like this happen. Maybe not as dramatic but you have got to be professional about it and just give everything on the day.

“The more things stacked against us the greater the opportunity and reward so if we can pull this off it would be one of Worcester’s greatest ever wins.”

The 24-year-old point guard admitted Newcastle “played really well” as Wolves conceded more than 100 points in a game for only the third time this term.

But having thrashed Eagles 126-97 the last time they met at the arena in March Klassen is confident they can produce the goods again.

“Great things can happen,” Klassen said. “We have beaten them by 29 points already this year so it is definitely not insurmountable.

“If they score 105 points again we are not going to win by 20 no matter what.

“We need to find a defensive game-plan that will hold them to 80 or 85 points and try to have a high-scoring game.”

Alejandro Vaquera, who is the University of Worcester’s basketball academic from Leon, will step in to cover for James.

“We need to know exactly what we are going to do offensively and defensively because the coach isn’t going to be there to relay that again,” Klassen added.

“Our team are going to be confident no matter what. We have got a lot of weapons so we just need to have one of those nights where things go right. We need to make our shots, have high assists and low turnovers and play great defensive basketball.”