WORCESTER Wolves boss Matt Newby is targeting a British Basketball League top-two spot.

The BBL Cup winners return to the University of Worcester Arena on Friday night to face in-form Sheffield Sharks (7.30pm) after a tough double-header last weekend.

Newby's side continued to be Newcastle Eagles' bogey side this season after winning 95-79 in the north-east.

But third-placed Wolves were then pipped 91-86 in overtime by Glasgow Rocks two days later.

However, Newby is aiming for a top-two spot with Rocks and London Lions currently four points ahead.

The head coach said: “Once we got over the bridge of the Christmas break and the cup run ended we got a sense of where we could be.

“We need to fight for a top-two position because that bodes well for the way the play-offs have been formed this year.

“Our mindset should be to focus on each game, use it as a stepping stone towards that agenda and try to force teams to beat us.”

On last weekend's tough brace of games, Newby said: “A big high on Friday night and then a tough loss on the Sunday.

“I guess some people would be satisfied with splitting a double-header against two very good teams but we have come off the floor and we’re not satisfied.

“It was a good game (at Glasgow) for the fans and the league in terms of the closeness and competitiveness.

“Both teams were well disciplined and have systems but unfortunately we couldn’t close it out.

“At the close of the fourth quarter we did a good job and pulled it back. We gave ourselves an opportunity in overtime.

“The reality is when overtime came they stepped up and we didn’t or couldn’t go with them.

“We managed the game pretty well up until that point and were still in it.

“But it was back and forth and sometimes you’ve got to be a bit more precious about a four-point split earlier in the game or an extra possession and understand what you’re trying to get out of it.

“Nobody could doubt the effort of the team or their application. It’s just sometimes our decisions didn’t make for the best return.”

Friday's opponents Sheffield will visit Worcester for the first time this season having climbed into fifth spot with back-to-back home wins last weekend.

Newby added: “They are very good. Some people probably wrote them off at the beginning of the year.

“They needed time to form like any team. The perimeter is very good.

“Mackey McKnight and Nick Lewis are very dynamic and when you add Connor Cashaw to that the perimeter is very much one that can give returns from a number of different angles.

“You complement that with Rob Marsden and Mike Tuck and the import they brought in — Bennett Koch. The centre’s come into his own recently.

“They are a handful and we need to make sure we adhere to the scouting, show due diligence and recognise Atiba (Lyons, head coach) and his team are looking for the highest play-off spot they can get."

Wolves, whose centre Amir Williams figured in the All-Star Five off the bench for week 24, lost 76-69 at Sharks in the BBL on February 7.