Leopards will look to move closer to a home play-off quarter-final when they host Sheffield Arrows at Wodson Park, on Saturday – tip-off 7.30pm.

Realistically, the Big Cats need three wins from their final five games – four of which are at home – if they are to seal a place in the top four, although if other games go there way two victories would be enough.

Arrows will arrive at Wodson Park in seventh place with six wins from 14 games, and seem to have survived the walkout of star English forward Andre Rankine who moved to Manchester Magic.

The two sides have met twice in Yorkshire this season – with the teams splitting the series. The Big Cats were without leading scorer Carl Latham-Henry on each occasion, and the first meeting saw them lose 76-61 in the National Trophy group stage.

Jon Burnell’s team failed to put enough points on the board in the opening 20 minutes as they trailed 47-25 at half-time. The Big Cats’ only two players aged over 20, Gareth Laws and Sam Salter, led the scoring with 15 and 14 points respectively, with point guard Lucas Volskis adding ten points.

Leopards returned to the English Institute of Sport for a league game in December, and Lee McCarthy led the Leopards’ scoring for the first time this season as they ran out 75-70 winners. Captain Sam Salter added 16 points, and Antonio Bright (12) and Gareth Laws (10) finished in double figures as a depleted Leopards line-up produced a good all-round performance.

Fola Adeleke repeatedly proved too quick for the home side, and was rewarded with a pair of free-throws to send Leopards into the final minute 71-68 ahead. A frantic last minute saw both sides miss shots, but Bright was clattered as he went to the basket with 12 seconds to go. The American guard injured his ankle as he hit the floor, and after a time-out from Leopards coach Jon Burnell, he was substituted by Sam Salter.

The Leopards captain coolly sunk both free-throws, and after Rankine had missed a trey, Salter was fouled and wrapped up the Big Cats’ fourth league victories in five attempts from the line.

Having lose heavily at Manchester on Sunday, coach Burnell is looking for his side to bounce back: “We just couldn’t handle their depth in the end, but we’re still in good shape for fourth spot, and we need to make sure we pick up the win on Saturday.

“Arrows are a solid team, and Dustin Bevard caused us problems offensively both times we have played them, so it won’t be easy.”