READING Rockets will put their unbeaten season on the line this weekend when they travel to Manchester for England Basketball's Playoff Championships. Rockets will take on Sheffield Arrows in the first semi final and Manchester Magic will play London Leopards in the second game. The winners of each will play for the Playoff Championship on Sunday.

Reading will not be looking past Sheffield, even though they have beaten them four times already this season. Coach Pete Kelly's team have enjoyed an excellent end to the season, winning eight out of the last nine to finish fourth in the league. The Yorkshire side have relied on their American players for much of their scoring this season. The reliable duo of Doug McClaughlin- Williams and Tyler Ousley have not disappointed as both have finished in the league's top five scorers.

The winner of the semi final will take on the home town Magic or the London Leopards, both of whom are very talented teams. Manchester beat the Big Cats just two weeks ago but Leopards won the previous encounter in overtime. Rockets enjoyed a rest over the Easter weekend and will be rested and fully fit for the weekend.

Head coach Dave Titmuss believes that this year's competition will be tough, and Rockets will have to be at their best to make a historic clean sweep of all four National titles: "We're preparing on the basis that Sheffield who I think are playing very well at the moment will come with their best game in the Semi-Final, and if we're able to move onto the Final I expect a possession by possession dog fight. "