WORCESTER Wolves face a daunting task when they start their British Basketball League play-offs campaign at Newcastle Eagles tonight (7.30).

Newcastle, the regular season champions, are aiming for their fourth straight play-off crown. If they achieve that target, they would be the first team in BBL history to do so.

Worcester, by contrast, are entering the post-season play-offs for the first time.

Wolves' coach Skouson Harker knows that his team are up against it - despite being one of only three sides to have beaten the Eagles in the league this season.

"We're looking forward to proving ourselves against them," said Harker. "For us, it's a good opportunity to show that we belong in the play-offs. It's been a good year for the club and there's a lot of positive energy around the camp at the moment.

"Everyone has made an effort and we've really appreciated that this year. The whole club needed to bounce back after last season.

"Even with our lack of depth in the squad and our poor start, I feel that we should have made the play-offs and I would have been very disappointed if we hadn't."

Having already won the BBL regular season title and finishing runners-up in the BBL Cup and BBL Trophy, Eagles' player-coach Fab Flournoy is excited about the start of the play-offs.

"The regular season is over and only the top eight are left and we're just looking forward to playing Worcester.

"They will be up for it and have a lot of fire-power in Anthony Paez, James Life and Skouson Harker.

"Life's been on the injured list, but he'll be back tonight and he can certainly score. In Chuck Evans they also have an excellent point-guard - he runs the team well, gets the ball to the right guy and can hit the open shot. I wish I was as good at point as he is.

"They also have some good role players, the big guys re-bound well and do a good defensive job. It's going to be a good basketball game and we will have to battle."

The three league meetings between Eagles and Wolves have all gone in the home team's favour this season.

Newcastle won 92-73 in November before suffering a shock 100-94 loss in January. However they sealed the season series with a 94-82 victory at the Metro Radio Arena in February.