IN-form Worcester Wolves are preparing to face Midlands rivals Birmingham Panthers at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham on Sunday (1pm).

The game is being staged at the 6,000-seat venue as a precursor to the BBL Cup final between Marshall MK Lions and Newcastle Eagles.

Wolves' head coach Skouson Harker believes the game will provide a great opportunity for his team to showcase their talents.

He said: "The club have been there once before when they were in the EBL but, for this group of players, it's the first time we've had the chance to play there and all of the guys are really looking forward to it.

"There is a number of great venues in the BBL, but this is obviously the best one we get to play at.

"It's a great place and we can't wait to get out on the court and play in front of a big crowd."

That previous trip to the NIA was a successful one as, when the club were still in the national leagues, they won the Division Two play-off final in 2003/04.

Wolves have been second best in the derby games with Panthers so far this season, having lost two out of three.

However, Birmingham-born Michael Gayle led Wolves to a 95-72 victory in the most recent game with a 21-point haul.

A repeat performance on Sunday would give Wolves a great opportunity of qualifying from their BBL Trophy group for the first time.

Tickets are available by calling the NIA on 0870-9094144 or at www.theticketfactory.com Meanwhile, Panthers head coach Nigel Lloyd has admitted he is concerned about Wolves' recent good form.

Wolves' play-caller Harker has expressed a wish to implement a run and gun' style of play in his team, using constant fast-break offences and exploiting his free-scoring partnership of James Life and Anthony Paez.

Noting the duo's recent form, Lloyd said: "Wolves are playing unbelievably well at the moment.

"They are forcing teams to play the way they want them to. They just want to run and gun' and get as many shots up as possible.

"They beat Newcastle Eagles - the best team in the league - last week and I'm told that they could have won by more.

"They've got some great scorers in Anthony Paez and James Life and Skouson Harker is starting to get hot as well. Douaine Anderson always plays well against us too."

Wolves' recent run of six wins in nine games is the best since the club joined the BBL and suggests that Harker's strategy is working. Furthermore, Wolves have scored over 100 points in five of those games.

And Harker rates the Eagles victory as the biggest in the club's history. He said: "We were outstanding.

"We played some really good defence and everything stemmed from that."