WORCESTER Wolves head coach Paul James is confident his players possess both the talent and mental toughness to build on last season’s success ahead of the new British Basketball League campaign.

James knows his team is there to be shot at following their double-winning triumph of claiming both the BBL Trophy and the play-off titles, the first pieces of major silverware in the club’s history.

Wolves defeated Newcastle Eagles in the Wembley play-off final and lock horns with them again in the north east in Friday’s curtain-raiser.

“Nobody sees us as ‘little old Worcester’ any more, they see us as a team capable of going out there and winning things,” James said.

“That makes it a little bit tougher for us. It’s always difficult the second time around but I think we’ve got guys who are mentally tough enough. Obviously time will tell, but I think we’ll be ok.”

James has recruited a number of new faces with French forward Remi Dibo, guards Chavis Holmes and Sean Park, American centre Robert Thurman and former Cheshire man Donatas Visockis joining the likes of the retained Alex Owumi, Jamal Williams, Caylin Raftopoulos and Kalil Irving.

“I think we have recruited well this season,” James added. “I think that the players we have brought in are of an equally high quality to those who have left, and we have more depth this season, particularly in terms of our scoring options.”

Wolves managing director Mick Donovan said: “I think it will be a more competitive league this year, but I think it’s good to have expectations and pressure on the Wolves, which I am sure will bring the best out of us.

“You can’t be the underdog forever. Once you win something, the challenge is to prove it wasn’t a one-off.

“If the new team can match the talent that they clearly have with a great team spirit and a genuine hunger, then they really can be a force this year and the fans should be excited about the potential we have.”