Guildford Heat's Chad McKnight is sympathetic to Wolves

McKnight must now patch together a side to face the BBL leaders.

Guildford Heat coach Chad McKnight says he sympathises with troubled BBL side Worcester Wolves who are currently unable to field a team.

Wolves' problems, which stem from the resignation of their coach and the departure of six players, mean the Heat now play Sheffield Sharks this weekend.

McKnight told BBC Surrey: "You never want to see teams go through that.

"I wouldn't want that as coach. With us trying to keep the BBL strong and get it bigger it hurts to see that."

The fixture change comes as a blow for head coach McKnight who was hoping to rest one or two key players, but instead must field his strongest possible side against the title contenders.

"It's going to be a big change for us because we have a few guys that are hurt and sick, not to the point where they can't play, but it would have been a game this weekend where we would have been able to rest them.

"So now those guys will have to play but no matter what we have to play the fixture so guys will have to strap on the shoes, tape up and get ready to go."

One player that McKnight will be asking to play through the pain barrier is forward Julius Joseph who fell on his neck several weeks ago and is still continuing his recovery.

"He played roughly 15 minutes this weekend but he's still hurt.

"He still trains and shoots so it's not that he won't be able to play, just that he could have done with this weekend off really."