WORCESTER Wolves women have the chance to boost their promotion hopes in National League Division Two North when they host leaders Team Birmingham Elite tomorrow (6.30pm).

However, head coach Ryan Emery has urged his players not to worry about “the bigger picture” and focus on beating their in-form Midlands rivals at the University of Worcester’s St John’s Campus.

Wolves have made a superb start to their campaign, winning all three games, and Emery admitted they had set their ambitions high this season.

“Initially, we said play-offs and we would like to stay with that mind-set,” he said.

“You need to be in the top four to get in the play-offs and if we are in that we will be in a strong position to get promoted. But they are season-long goals.

“We want to take each game at a time, so we are looking forward to Birmingham — and that’s all we are focusing on.

“We don’t want to worry about the bigger picture.”

Emery says his side have made “huge” strides this season having already claimed more victories than they did last term.

Captain Paula Bayon, Dalia Jakubaityte, Jess Dowles and Aalyah Malcolm are the only surviving members from that squad.

But Wolves have strengthened with the signings of Lucy Foster, Georgia Hart, Toma and Greta Pulokaite, Chloe Hinett and Eryn Morton.

“It was my first year in charge last season and I was a third year student as well, which was difficult,” said Emery, who has the support of assistant coaches Felix Hallam and Alex Mason.

“But this year we have had more time to plan and prepare for the season.

“We had a really good pre-season and recruited really well as we had a very good fresher intake this year and the players are really on board with what we want to do.

“There is only one thing on their mind and that’s to win.”

Third-placed Worcester will aim to secure a fourth successive victory but they face a Birmingham side who have won all four of their games.

“I remember being optimistic ahead of this fixture last year and we were beaten by 20 points,” Emery said.

“But we played them in the cup in the first game of the year, with a team of new players, and we were up by 15 and won by two points.

“That just shows how much the girls have progressed this year.

“I have no doubt in my mind Birmingham have got better but we have as well.

“We know our systems now and how each other play and we are a very good defensive team.

“We are also very aggressive, so it should be a really good game.”