READING Rockets (12-5) return to NBL Division One action as they travel north to face Lancashire Spinners (11-6) on Saturday evening (5.45pm), writes Richard Ashton.

Manuel Pena Garces’s men will aim to boost their top-four hopes by securing a sixth win from seven games, while also banishing the painful 92-61 defeat to Manchester Magic in the National Trophy Final on Sunday.

It was the first time in six attempts that Rockets have lost the final of that competition, and they will be hoping to bounce back immediately against a team they have beaten in their previous two meetings.

At the start of the season, Reading needed overtime to win 99-95 in the league, while they also prevailed in the National Trophy quarter final in Lancashire, winning that game 80-71.

Head Coach Peña Garcés knows his team must dust themselves off quickly and focus on finishing their league campaign as strongly as possible.

The Spaniard said: “Sunday’s game was really tough and unfortunately it wasn’t to be our day. We had prepared really well and I felt we were really ready to challenge the best team in the league but losing Tony (Antonio Robinson) just before the game was a huge blow and despite closing the gap at half time, it was too big a mountain for us to climb.

“It is a real shame for us and a defeat that was very painful for all the players, coaching staff, and supporters, but the biggest test for us now is to learn from the game and be ready for the rest of the league and this weekend’s game against Lancashire. We have done very well this season and to get to a national final is a really good achievement in itself, it just wasn’t to be for us this time but let’s see what happens in the future.”

He continued: “Saturday’s opponents will be really tough to beat especially away from home.

“We have had two really hard fought games against them this season and in both games we have dug really deep to come out on top.

“We must use this confidence as well as not forgetting our identity and hard work to this point to go into the game. They have some really good young talent as well as some very good experience and I know coach Neal (Hopkins) will have them ready to play. It’s a really important one for both teams and I am expecting a really positive reaction from the players this week to show the talent and togetherness we really do have.”

Rockets go into the game still uncertain about the extent of American point guard Robinson’s calf/achilles injury.

The 6ft 2in 23-year-old suffered the injury in one of the practices leading up to the National Trophy final but looked clear to play only to break down in the warm-up.

The club’s physio team will assess Robinson’s injury this week before making a decision as to how long he will be on the sidelines.

Peña Garcés will therefore look to his Under 18 players to make the trip with Fidel Gomez De Enterria Lopez, Ibu Jassey Demba, and Ali Sbai all in contention despite having their own game in Solent the same day.