New Cheshire Phoenix head coach Colin O'Reilly has been handed a tough opening month to the 2016/17 BBL campaign.

The Nix begin their season away at Worcester Wolves on Friday, September 23 (7.30pm) before welcoming last season's league runners-up and BBL Cup winners Newcastle Eagles to the Cheshire Oaks Arena two days later.

Cheshire face tough opposition in the early weeks of the season on their home court, with reigning league champions Leicester Riders, Worcester, Plymouth Raiders and last season's play-off champions Sheffield Sharks all visiting Ellesmere Port before the end of November.

The Nix open up their BBL Cup campaign with a trip to local rivals Manchester Giants on Sunday, October 9.

And Cheshire have two games earmarked for TV following the announcement last week that the BBC will show 32 BBL and WBBL games via the red button and online this season.

Cheshire's trip to Glasgow Rocks on Friday, December 30 and the visit of Leeds Force on Friday, March 3 are both the provisional games.

Phoenix fixtures 16/17

Friday, September 23 (7.30pm) v Worcester Wolves (A)

Sunday, September 25 (5.30pm) v Newcastle Eagles (H)

Sunday, October 2 (4pm) v Leeds Force (A)

Sunday, October 9 (5pm) v Manchester Giants (A) BBL CUP

Sunday, October 16 (5.30pm) v Leicester Riders (H)

Saturday, October 22 (7pm) v Surrey Scorchers (A)

Sunday, October 23 (5.30pm) v Worcester Wolves (H)

Sunday, October 30 (5.30pm) v Plymouth Raiders (H )

Friday, November 4 (7.30pm) v Newcastle Eagles (A)

Sunday, November 20 (5.30pm) v Sheffield Sharks (H)

Friday, November 25 (7.30pm) v Surrey Scorchers (A)

Sunday, November 27 (5.30pm) v Glasgow Rocks (H)

Sunday, December 11 (5.30pm) v Manchester Giants (H)

Friday, December 16 (7.30pm) v Newcastle Eagles (A)

Sunday, December 18 (5.30pm) v Bristol Flyers (H)

Wednesday, December 21 (7.30pm) v Sheffield Sharks (A)

Friday, December 30 (7.30pm) v Glasgow Rocks (A)

Sunday, January 8 (4pm) v Leeds Force (A) BBL TROPHY

Saturday, January 21 (7.45pm) v Leicester Riders (A)

Sunday, January 29 (5.30pm) v Bristol Flyers (H)

Sunday, February 5 (5pm) v Manchester Giants (A)

Friday, February 17 (7.30pm) v Glasgow Rocks (A)

Sunday, February 19 (5.30pm) v Plymouth Raiders (H)

Friday, March 3 (7.30pm) v Leeds Force (H )

Saturday, March 4 (7.45pm) Leicester Riders (A)

Friday, March 10 (7.30pm) v Newcastle Eagles (A)

Sunday, March 12 (5.30pm) v Sheffield Sharks (H)

Friday, March 24 (7.30pm) v London Lions (A)

Sunday, March 26 (5.30pm) v Worcester Wolves (H)

Friday, March 31 (7.30pm) v Plymouth Raiders (A)

Sunday, April 2 (5.30pm) v London Lions (H)

Friday, April 7 (7.30pm) v Bristol Flyers (A)

Sunday, April 9 (5.30pm) v Surrey Scorchers (H)

Sunday, April 16 (5pm) v Manchester Giants (A)

Friday, April 21 (7.30pm) v London Lions (A)

Sunday, April 23 (5.30pm) v Leeds Force (H)