Mersey Tigers coach Tony Garbelotto admits his injury crisis will not be over before this weekend’s play-off quarter-final against Leicester Riders.
The two sides go head to head at the Sanford Centre on Saturday before playing the second leg at the Amaechi Centre in Manchester 24 hours later.
However the league champions are set to be without both Great Britain captain Drew Sullivan (above), who is fighting back against an ankle injury, as well as Perry Lawson who has a shoulder problem.
“Drew is struggling for this weekend,” Garbelotto confirmed. “The next 48 hours are really important. Perry has a real chance to play next weekend if we progress.”
However Nate Reinking will be available for the tie after recovering from a virus.
With the chance of a treble on offer, Garbelotto insists the two-legged format will not catch his side out.
"For us it is something we have grown used to,” he said.
“We must have played the most two legged semis in the past three years along with Newcastle. Do I like it? No, but that is the format for this season so that is what we have to prepare for."
EJ: Rocks must step up
Glasgow Rocks captain EJ Harrison says his side only have themselves to blame for landing a nightmare BBL play-off draw.
The Kelvin Hall outfit will visit Sheffield on Friday night for the first leg of their quarter-final with the return in Glasgow next Monday.
Harrison admits Glasgow are up against it after suffering two hammerings by the Sharks in the past month. However the American plans to fight to avoid an early end to the season.
“You have to beat whoever you play,” he said. “We have Sheffield. We put ourselves in this position.
"So it’s up to us to make up for letting ourselves down during the season. We have to play harder, better, smarter – every superlative you can use, we have to do. We haven’t done it lately. But we now have to be ready.”
Pictures: Basketviews
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