HEAD coach Paul James says Worcester Wolves must treat every game in the British Basketball League as though defeat could cost them the title.

Wolves are firmly in the mix for the championship crown after beating league leaders Newcastle Eagles to close the gap at the top to just two points.

Although the Eagles have a game in hand, Worcester have now beaten the North East side twice, following last Friday’s 99-91 triumph at the University Arena, meaning they would place higher if tied.

But Wolves are still relying on Eagles slipping up at least one more time as well as winning all their own games, starting at Bristol Flyers tonight (7.30pm).

James said: “We can’t rest thinking that we’ve beaten Newcastle and that’s it, we really have to try to win every game now to give ourselves an opportunity.

“We’ve got to go out with the mindset that this could be our season on the line like we did against Newcastle. Every game we play now has got to be that way.

“The margins are very fine. There are a lot of games still to be played but all we can do is take care of the next team in front of us but we’ve really got to approach it as this next game could cost us the league if we don’t have the right mindset and perform.”

Victory would be Worcester’s fifth in a row, while Bristol are looking to bounce back from three defeats, including Wednesday’s 73-58 Trophy reverse at London Lions.

The head coach continued: “Bristol have gone through a few changes but they’re still a very competitive and competent team who are very dangerous if we allow them to play.

“I am expecting a tough test there and we’ve certainly got to be 100 per cent to win.”

The Bristol match is part of a double header that also sees Wolves start the defence of their BBL Trophy crown with a last 16 clash at Durham Wildcats tomorrow (4pm).

Last year’s Wolves final triumph over Glasgow Rocks in Scotland was Worcester’s first piece of British League silverware and they followed it up by winning the play-offs at Wembley.

The paperwork for new signing Dejan Radojevic to make his debut is expected to have been completed on time.

Centre Robert Thurman has still not fully recovered from an ankle injury and is only rated at 80 per cent but should feature in both games.