READING Rockets hope captain Danny Carter’s back injury is not a serious one as they prepare for two crunch games this weekend.

Team Northumbria visit the Loddon Valley Leisure Centre on Saturday (6pm), before Reading travel to the capital to face London Lituanica on Sunday afternoon (1pm) as the race for second place in NBL Division One hots up.

Carter injured his lower back in the 78-73 win against Worthing Thunder last Saturday and missed the following day’s 74-68 home victory against Bradford Dragons – the seventh league win in a row for Rockets.

The 27-year-old will have an X-ray to assess any further damage to a complaint that the 6ft 9in forward has had in previous seasons, but could face a spell on the sidelines, so putting a dent in Rockets chances of a top-four finish.

Head coach Manuel Peña Garcés was disappointed to lose his captain, but was pleased his side chalked up another two wins.

The Spaniard said: “Losing Danny was, and is, a bit of a blow for us and we are still to see the extent of the injury, but I was very happy with the rest of the team and how we pulled together in the difficult parts of each game to secure two vital wins.

“In both games we had a bit of trouble with execution and scores against us, but we continued to battle and showed some togetherness and resilience that maybe we didn’t have earlier on in the season so that pleases me.”

He continued: “We have two very hard games coming up against two really good teams.

“Coach Marc (Steutel) has done a great job with Team Northumbria and I know he has worked hard to get the best out of them which is exactly what he is doing. Lewis Champion continues to grow and be a leader for their team and someone whom we must control right from the start of the game.

“I know they will be very keen to overturn their National Trophy loss so I am expecting a tough game especially as both teams are vying for the top four.

“Sunday’s game against London Lituanica provides us with another really difficult test.

“At home they are really tough and not too many teams have come out with a win, so we will have to play really well to try to have the outcome in our favour.”

Peña Garcés concluded: “Keeping (Ausridas) Petraitis quiet will be a key for us, but matching their physicality and breaking them down will be the thing that can give us an advantage.”