READING Rockets start the 2017-2018 season with a double-header weekend as they travel to Barking on Saturday afternoon to take on NBL Division One new-boys Kent Crusaders (4pm) before hosting Team Solent Kestrels on Sunday at Rivermead Leisure Complex (5pm).

Both games are in the National Trophy Pool Three, with Worthing Thunder the other team in the group.

Rockets concluded their pre-season games last week when they defeated Team USA Select 65-58, making it three wins from four ahead of their first competitive game.

Manuel Pena Garces’ men have also made what looks to be their final signing of closed season with the news that Lithuanian forward Simas Raupys has joined the Berkshire outfit.

The 6ft 5in 23-year-old is a former Lithuanian Under 19 representative and played in his home country last term before moving to Hertfordshire.

Pena Garces said: “We have been looking to bring in one more player so to be able to have someone of Simas’ quality complete our roster is really pleasing and we are all excited to get started this weekend.

“Our pre-season has been positive up to now and our junior players have made an excellent impact whilst we have been waiting for players to arrive, so we feel in a good position going into the season – but with a lot of work to do.

“This weekend we play two good quality organisations. Kent did really well to bounce back to Division One last season and coach Lloyd (Gardner) continues to do a great job at Barking Academy and with the Crusaders so we are expecting a tough opening test.

“Team Solent Kestrels defeated us in the play-off quarter finals last season and have once again composed a challenging roster. They did really well in their first season in Division One and I think will pose a threat again this year so for a first home game this should be a really good game to watch.”

Both of this weekend’s opponents have caused Rockets problems in the last couple of seasons with both the teams defeating the Berkshire outfit at the play-off quarter-final stage.

Team Solent were victors in last year’s post season as they came away from Reading with an 87-71 win and Kent Crusaders, who beat the Rockets in last season’s National Cup quarter-finals 92-83 also defeated the Reading team in the 2014/2015 play-off quarter-final 63-61.