LEOPARDS face two teams at opposite ends of the table as they bid to extend their unbeaten run this weekend.

The Basildon and Brentwood based side travel to struggling Westminster Warriors on Saturday evening before facing fellow high-flyers the Derby Trailblazers the next day.

And coach Dejan Mihevc is expecting two tricky tests.

“Both of the games will be difficult,” stressed Mihevc whose side have won their last 12 league outings.

“Even though we are not close to Westminster in the table I see this game as a local derby which makes it harder.

“They are a team that will always play hard and put in a lot of effort so if we are not at 100 percent then they will beat us.

“It almost happened before but we eventually won in overtime and we expect things to be just as tough this time around.”

Leopards’ fine form has taken them to the top of the English Basketball League table.

They currently share that lead with Derby.

And Leopards guard David Buchburger insists the team are therefore keen to come out on top against them at the Brentwood Centre on Sunday having also beaten their title rivals last weekend “Right after playing Westminster we have to turn around and play Derby, the team with which we are tied for first place which will be hard,” said Buchberger.

“Having just played them and beaten them in a close game last week, I am expecting another very competitive match this weekend.

“With first place on the line, this is going to be a really intense game as well.

“Both clubs have had great seasons so far and I'm sure Derby, like us, want to finish things off at the top of the table.

“They have great guard play and a strong interior presence as well so if we're going to beat them again we'll need to produce the best collective effort we have had all season,”

Last week’s win in Derby gave Leopards revenge for October’s 97-91 overtime loss against the Trailblazers at Barking Abbey in the Trophy group stage.

But coach Mihevc still rates the Trailblazers highly.

“It is hard to change my opinion in just a few days about them and what I thought before that game, because it is still the same team,” said Mihevc.

“I still think that they are probably the best team in our league, with some really good individuals that can beat you by themselves and we will need to play even better this time to repeat a success from last weekend.

“For us a win would be a great bonus to everything what we did in last months and for Derby it could be a crucial game for winning the league championship which probably is their goal.”