Sheffield Sharks are not planning on making any major roster changes to their mis-firing squad but will instead trust in the players they have to lift them from their mid-season slump.

Atiba Lyons waited until December to get his full compliment of players on the court with high-profile summer recruit Mervin James and fan-favourite Prentiss Nixon spending long periods on the sideline through injury.

But since their return, a deep, talented roster has shown only flashes of continuity and consistency, with results suffering because of it.

Ahead of the launch of the defence of the Super League Basketball Cup they won last March, there is no immediate thoughts about moving players on or bringing in somebody new.

Dirk Williams soars to the basket for Sheffield Sharks against London Lions but they ultimately fell to a second home defeat in a row. (Picture: Adam Bates)

placeholder image — Dirk Williams soars to the basket for Sheffield Sharks against London Lions but they ultimately fell to a second home defeat in a row. (Picture: Adam Bates)

Chief executive Sarah Backovic said: “Those sorts of conversations happen all the time because you’ve got things to consider like injuries and impact on the team.

“There’s no specific plan but there’s always a conversation.

“We’ve got a very talented squad, all good people.

“It’s just getting the chemistry and combinations right, perhaps that’s something we need to consider but it’s not at the forefront of discussions.”

Rodney Chatman III in action against London Lions (Picture: Adam Bates)

Sunday’s SLB Cup quarter-final brings a reunion with Cheshire Phoenix, a team Sheffield have a growing animosity with after two fiery encounters in Ellesmere Port earlier in the season.

“We’re so used to people trying to create rivalries but at the end of the day every team is a rival,” said Backovic, who is hoping her team can end a two-game losing run at a Canon Medical Arena they are usually dominant in.

“There’s no more pressure on the game for us than there would be anyway, just the sense of pride to defend our home court and our trophy.”

Last season’s Cup final win over the Surrey 89ers in Nottingham brought an end to a nine-year trophy drought, and despite their hopes in two of the competitions now over (out of the Trophy, too far behind league leaders London) it is still hoped that it can be a catalyst for another era of success for the Sharks.

“It was a huge achievement for us last year and we were very proud of that result,” continued Backovic.

“This year there’s even more pressure on because you’re trying to repeat.

“You couldn’t do much better than last year so you’re trying to achieve the same.

“So the focus is on trying to get there.”