 Sterling Davis will miss the final with a knee problem |
The Guildford Heat will start as favourites for Sunday's BBL Cup Final as rivals the Scottish Rocks struggle with injuries on and off the court. Rocks coach Thorsten Leibenath may not be able to make the trip because of chronic back pain.
Assistant Ross Hutton is out after a recent appendectomy and forward Sterling Davis has a knee problem.
Guildford have beaten the Rocks twice already this season and have suffered only two defeats in 18 games.
Leibenath was rushed to hospital in the early hours of Wednesday morning after waking up in agony from his long-standing back condition.
In his and Hutton's absence, guard Robert Yanders and Great Britain forward Julius Joseph have taken charge of the Rocks practices.
"It's always a good opportunity to play in a big game," said Yanders, who won the cup in 2004 with Sheffield, beating the Rocks in the final.
"The cup was our main goal last season and we never accomplished it, so it would be good to do it this season."
Guildford captain Mike Martin said: "Julius is a good friend of mine - we came through the Westminster Warriors programme together. We'll have to stop him if we're going to win."
The Heat are looking for their first piece of silverware since entering the league last season and have not lost since early November in any competition.
The Heat played at Sunday's venue, the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham, in the play-off semi-finals at the end of last season.
"Being a new club, this is obviously a great achievement," said Martin. "We've kept most of the side together from last season, so we've gelled quickly and it shows in the results."
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