HEAD coach Paul James says Worcester Wolves are determined to go into the play-offs in form and has targeted them winning their remaining nine games.

Wolves put a heavy defeat at Glasgow Rocks behind them to despatch Sheffield Sharks 87-65 last Friday to move back into second place in the British Basketball League.

Although pipping Newcastle Eagles to the title looks unlikely, bettering last season’s record third place finish is in their own hands as they still have to face Leicester Riders, who are currently third, twice.

That challenge begins tonight when they host Plymouth Raiders at the University Arena (7.30pm).

“We have got nine games left and we’re going to try to win all nine games,” James said. “If we can, we’ll see where we are at the end of the season.

“But we are just looking at the next game and trying to win that and make sure we are going into the play-offs with rhythm and confidence and everyone playing well at the same time.”

Worcester have already beaten Plymouth twice in Devon this term, winning 95-90 and January and 95-88 in December.

A clean sweep of victories against the 11th-placed side is on the line tonight but James, who could give a debut to new Lithuanian guard Robertas Binitas, is not expecting an easy ride.

He said: “It will be a tough game because Plymouth have been in some high-scoring games lately.

“They’ve got a bunch of players who can score, especially from three-point land. The last two times we’ve had to play them very tough defensively to shut them down and that’s what we’re going to have to do again.

“We’ll need to chase them off the three-point line and make them do things they don’t want to do. Our defence will have to be very solid and offensively we’ve got to stay with what we know and pick them apart.

“I don’t want to get into an up and down high-scoring game because then it’s a bit of a lottery. We want to get them into a half-court game and slow them down offensively.

“We’re full of confidence but we can’t be over-confident. We’ve got to go out there and play with the same passion and intensity as last weekend and play for each other.”

Plymouth are returning to league action after losing to Newcastle in the BBL Trophy semi-finals, which saw them concede more than 100 points in each leg.