READING Rockets (7-3) will begin 2017 with arguably their toughest weekend of the season to date.

They entertain last season’s quadruple winners Manchester Magic (10-2) in NBL Division One on Saturday evening (6pm tip-off) before welcoming BBL Championship outfit Bristol Flyers to Reading on Sunday afternoon (5pm tip-off) in the first round of the BBL Trophy.

Rockets finished last year in great form, winning six league games in a row which saw them return to their home venue, Rivermead Leisure Complex, to record a 101-79 victory over Team Solent Kestrels in their final game and lift the Berkshire outfit to fourth place in the Division One table.

Rockets’ head coach Manuel Peña Garcés (pictured right) has been pleased to see his team’s change in form prior to the Christmas break and is hopeful they can continue to improve.

The new England Under 15 Boys head coach said: “We finished the year on a really good note. After a difficult first half against a talented Solent team where we gave up 49 points, the last five minutes of the third quarter and the first five minutes of the fourth quarter were absolutely brilliant and we played some fantastic basketball and this is what we must build on. I have been pleased with the progression of the team both in terms of individual players and as a group, the latter being the most important to any successes this season.

“We have much work still to do now we have got ourselves back in the mix near the top of the league.

“It is now time to continue with this and try to challenge the teams right at the top, but we know that isn’t going to be easy as Team Northumbria, Derby, and Manchester have all been in great form this season.”

Reading Aassistant Ccoach Alan Keane has warned his side to expect a tough encounter on Saturday. He said: “Manchester has been the team to beat in recent years and Paul (Middleton, Magic Aassistant Ccoach) has done a fantastic job with the groups he has had and I think this year with a change in personnel it is no different. They have recently brought in an American in Duane Morgan as well as a big talent in Stefan Gill.

“They have a nice balance to their team and are always well prepared for any opposition they face. Can we beat them? Of course, but we know it is going to be a hard task and one that we need to come in really ready for especially after a break for Christmas.

“We will be looking to keep our good run going as well as learning and improving to fulfil our end goal which is to grow together and win some silverware this year.”

In Sunday’s BBL Trophy tie, Rockets will be hoping to make it past the opening stages for the first time, and club chairman Gary Johnson said: “It is always great for us to be invited to take part in the BBL Trophy, and despite not quite making it past the first round yet, we still love to be in the competition and try our very best to cause an upset.

“We are hoping to put on a great show on Sunday on what is an absolutely brilliant weekend for the fans, as they are able to watch us against last season’s champions and against BBL opposition. We are really looking forward to the challenges and hope that both games will be well supported by our fans.”

Rockets have returned from the Christmas break with no injury concerns and Peña Garcés should have a fully fit squad available for him to select from.