READING Rockets (17-3) will look to extend their 16-game winning streak when they visit Lancashire Spinners (6-13) on Saturday evening (5.45pm).

Rockets won games 15 and 16 on the bounce as they defeated Leicester Warriors 82-73 last Saturday, before thrashing London Lituanica 105-69 the following day to keep the heat on NBL Division One leaders Team Northumbria (19-3).

Lancashire secured an important away win against fourth-placed Derby Trailblazers (13-6) with a 99-98 overtime success, keeping their feint play-off hopes alive.

The two teams met once back in November when Rockets won 96-73.

But Rockets head coach Manuel Peña Garces remains firmly focused on the next game despite talk of a title challenge and knows each of the remaining six games for his team presents their own challenges.

The Spaniard said: “I am really pleased we were able to record another two wins against two tough, physical teams.

“This pleases me and keeps our run and confidence going as we head into the next game against Lancashire. We are aware of what is happening in the league, it would be silly to suggest otherwise, but what is important for us is to keep taking our season game by game and focusing on the next job we have to complete and that is exactly what we are doing day by day, week by week.

“Complacency is often a word thrown around in sport when teams experience winning and success but I remind us all that we have not won anything yet and the hardest work is still to come.

He continued: “On Saturday we face a tough trip to Lancashire and it has been a difficult place to go and win and off the back of their win against Derby and the fact they are still in the hunt for the play-offs, they will undoubtedly be ready.

“Providing we keep preparing as we have, continue to work hard and make tweaks in practice, and focus on the task ahead, we have the potential to pick up another win and obviously that is our intention with a better performance each time.”

Rockets go into Saturday’s game with a number of injury concerns to their bench.

Joel Keeble is still three to four weeks away from a return, while there are injury concerns over academy duo Bikram Rana and Fidel Gomez De Enterria Lopez.

Both have picked up ankle problems in the last 10 days and look set to be on the sidelines for at least two to four weeks leaving the Rivermead side short of cover and problems for the club’s EABL and Under 18 teams.