HEAD coach Paul James has labelled Worcester Wolves’ BBL Trophy tie at lower-graded Team Northumbria tomorrow as a “banana skin” (6.30pm).

And James has urged his troops to produce a “professional” performance in a bid to avoid an upset in the opening round of the competition.

Team Northumbria are in seventh position in English Basketball League Division One, one level below the British Basketball League.

But James believes their opponents will have the “game of their lives” and insists his side cannot afford to “fool around” at the Sports Central.

“They are a team that have always been there or thereabouts in their division and winning cup finals,” James said.

“The difficulty is we can’t get any film on them to scout them as they are in a different division.

“It is a bit of a banana skin so we have certainly got to go there and be very professional and treat them with the respect they deserve.”

James is also anticipating a vocal home crowd as they look to cheer their side on to a shock victory over the 2014 Trophy winners.

“A lot of these teams aspire to be playing in the BBL so it is an opportunity for them to play against BBL opposition,” James continued.

“Without question they are going to come and have the game of their lives so we will have to go with the right energy and composure we need to win the game.

“I am sure they will have their biggest crowd of the season with us going up there so it gives everyone a lift.

“We have got to go out there and take the wind out of their sails straight away and say we are here to play.

“We are not going to be fooling around.”