Basketball: In-form Force told to take rivals lightly at their peril

The rivals have met twice already in the BBL Championship this season, winning one apiece.

Matt Newby’s men prevailed when the pair clashed less than two weeks ago to avenge their opening-night reverse.

That triumph sparked Force’s first-ever three-game winning streak in the top flight, as victories against Plymouth Raiders and Surrey Scorchers followed.

And Newby has warned his Force side not to take Cheshire lightly.

“They’ve certainly got the talent and we’re more than aware of that,” he said.

“We saw one side of them when we played them at their place but we were able to draw the right solutions to take the game away from them. Our defence was capable that night but we also shot the ball very well.

“We can’t be naïve about that this game, they are a quality team. They have got good personnel and we’ve got to go up a gear if we want to take the win.”