Worcester Wolves director of basketball Paul James has warned his side that Mersey Tigers will be like a wounded animal tonight (7.30).

The University of Worcester-based side crushed the reigning British League champions 91-62 in the quarter-finals of the cup competition last Friday.

But James says he is expecting them to be a completely different prospect for this evening’s league clash.

“I know their coach, Tony Garbelotto, was absolutely furious with how his Tigers team capitulated in the second-half against us,” James said.

“I’m sure he would have fired a few rockets up them in training this week and will be expecting a much better performance.”

Wolves, who return to Liverpool in search of a seventh consecutive win, are looking to maintain their 100 per cent start to the league campaign.

Worcester’s England international David Watts says Wolves must start the game better.

He said: “We need to play for all four quarters, not just two. Last Friday was a really scrappy game.

“We didn’t come to play in the first-half, we didn’t execute our plans properly, and we weren’t tuned in mentally.

Watts added: “Paul James chewed us out at half-time and the second-half was a different story.

“We went out and played much harder and earned ourselves a big win.

“Tommy Freeman, Richie Gordon and Sherrad Prezzie-Blue were really good for us, and Callum Jones gave us a lift off the bench and led by example.

“We need to do that again as we want to win properly, not ugly. We want to succeed in games the Worcester Wolves way.”