John Lavery has called for focus from his players as the Nix look to stay in the hunt for silverware.
The Nix play host to EBL minnows Bristol Academy Flyers in the BBLC Trophy quarter final on Sunday (5:30pm), but head coach Lavery has warned against complacency from his side.
The Flyers have progressed to the last eight having defeated BBL side Surrey United in the last round, a fact that has not been overlooked by Lavery.
“We have to make sure that we are prepared to fight and not be complacent,” said Lavery.
“They are going to be coming to the Northgate Arena with nothing to fear and will be buzzing after beating BBL opposition in the previous round.
“We can’t just play in fits and starts, we have to make sure we are on our game from the very start.
“We didn’t get going soon enough at the weekend and we need to learn from that and make sure that we get the job done in a professional manner.
“They are a team who we won’t be taking lightly and we have to respect what they have achieved already in this tournament.
“We have a great chance to progress to the semi-finals and the guys know they need to focus in order to do that.”
In what proved to be a mixed weekend for the Nix, coming out on top at struggling Birmingham Knights on Saturday and losing out at the Northgate Arena to league leaders Worcester Wolves on Sunday, Lavery said he believed his side were progressing but they still had ‘lessons to learn’.
“There are a lot of positives for us to take out of the weekend but there are also plenty of things that we need to address,” he said.
“It was a tough weekend. We didn’t play particularly well at Birmingham but we managed to get the win, which is an important trait.
“We knew it was going to be tough but we really needed to get going sooner and build up a lead.
“Against the Wolves we played well for spells against what is a very good team, but we have to come out stronger.
“It was a very physical game and the referee let a lot go, but we have to be better prepared for that side of things.
“That said, to match a side that has only lost three games all season and who went down to Plymouth (Pavilions) and smashed them the night before, it is a positive.
“Looking down the stretch, I think that we will be fine and can build some momentum between now and the end of the season. That’s the aim.”
