Crusaders will hope to have a full squad of healthy players for their two final games of the Patrons Cup, Saturday at Plymouth Marjon and Sunday at home against the Brixton Topcats at 1pm.

Crusaders have a long history against teams in Plymouth, but it will be the first time they face the Plymouth Marjon, formed by the merger of Plymouth Cannons and Plymouth Raiders 2. The two clubs didn’t see eye to eye for many years but last year they finally sat down together and made a plan for Plymouth men’s basketball development. The Raiders will take care of the professional side of things with the BBL’s Raiders team, while Plymouth Marjon will be the development side aiming to move into Division 1.

The Marjon team will be strengthened by the merger, but some of last year’s profiles in division 2 are now playing BBL. Jamie Burchell who led Raiders 2 last year has returned to the BBL where he played for many years. He is followed to the BBL by Jay Marriott, who also dominated for Raiders 2 last season.

Brixton were the team that knocked Crusaders out of last years National Cup as they handed Crusaders one of the heaviest defeats of the season in a 97-71 bashing in Brixton. Brixton ended up winning Division 3 South, but lost the playoff final to Westminster.

Brixton is a very athletic team that plays at a high speed. To win the game Crusaders must control the tempo and not let the quick Cats get near the basket.