DURHAM WILDCATS will be out to avenge their biggest disappointment of the year when they travel to Glasgow Rocks tonight.

Rocks won 83-81 when the teams met at Newton Aycliffe earlier this month, despite their hosts holding a 21-point half-time lead.

Wildcats coach Lee Davie is keen to banish that memory with a demonstration of the progress his side have made since.

“That was probably the biggest disappointment of the year,” said Davie.

“We were up 20 at half-time and then they pushed back and we just didn’t respond well as a team, but since then we have learned a lot of valuable lessons, who needs to be on the floor in what situation, and knowing what the focus and direction is in those battles.”

He added: “It’s a must-win to keep us in the head-to-head battle with them.

“But if (the previous meeting) is something I have to remind the players of then I will be very disappointed, the guys should have it circled on their schedules as somebody they are really looking to prove a point to.”

Both teams come into this game following positive points too.

Rocks knocked holders Leicester Riders out of the BBL Cup last weekend thanks to Kieron Achara’s miracle buzzer-beater while Wildcats overcame London Lions, just two days after falling to Leeds Force.

Rocks player-coach Sterling Davis is likely to miss out through injury, but Davie is well aware of the challenge that awaits, even with Rocks’ talisman confined to the bench.

Davie said: “They are coming off a buzzer-beater win, we are coming off a good win, we will both be trying to push forwards.

“They will be short-handed without Sterling so will probably try and jump out early and make us chase the game so if we can set the pace of the game defensively, make it difficult for them and then constantly attack them then, we will try and wear them down over a 40-minute period.”