THE new England Basketball League season begins in earnest for Worcester Wolves this weekend with two matches in 24 hours.

Wolves start their Division One campaign with a trip to newly-promoted Nottingham Knights tonight (7.30pm) followed by a home match at the University of Worcester against Manchester Magic tomorrow (4pm).

Nottingham, winners of three competitions during their runaway promotion success, have added four players to their squad, while Manchester have recruited five more players, including four over six feet six.

Wolves have already made an impressive start to the season with a 100 per cent record from four National Trophy matches securing a semi-final place.

Victories over Filton Flyers and Tamar Valley Cannons have also earned Wolves a National Cup quarter-final clash at Manchester Magic next Sunday.

Now the aim is to turn that form into back-to-back league wins as the team tries to emulate last season's fourth-placed finish.

Director of basketball Mick Donovan said: "We have played games and done really well but the real business starts this weekend.

"We are going to have to play at a different level if we are going to win this weekend. Both teams are stronger than we have played.

"With each game we are getting progressively stronger. The lads are aware they have got to step up this weekend."

Wolves' dream of winning the play-offs in their first season in the top flight was dashed by Sheffield Arrows in April.

But Donovan believes the new-look Wolves team has every chance of repeating that success.

"I think we have got the potential to surprise a lot of teams," he said. "Our aim is to finish in a healthy position and then upset the apple cart in the play-offs.

"We have got the potential and talent to finish in the top four. We have got a lot of belief in the young team we have got. There's a great buzz at the moment."

He is also confident Wolves' defensive ethic will hold them in good stead.

"We are not conceding a lot of points because of the emphasis we place on defence," said Donovan.

"We are one of the few teams who look closely at trying to stop teams from scoring. Some teams are happy to win 110-109. Although we are focused on attacking, we focus on stopping teams as well."

American pair Andy Harper and Ty Shaw have passed fitness tests on respective knee and calf injuries and will be part of a full-strength squad.

However, head coach Josh Cooprider is not due to return from the United States until Tuesday. This means assistant Rob Crump and second team coach Cecil Gordon will be in charge on the sidelines.