HEAD coach Ty Shaw admits he considers the opening block of British Basketball League fixtures to be an extended “pre-season” for his new-look Worcester Wolves team.

But he has been impressed by his players’ attitude and how quickly they have adapted to the new regime.

Shaw who arrived only a couple of weeks before the start of the season will take charge of his fourth competitive game with Wolves when they host Bristol Flyers tonight (7.30pm).

Worcester started the campaign with a 93-81 victory over Plymouth Raiders before losing 91-83 at Cheshire Phoenix and 82-65 at London Lions.

Shaw insists his players who all joined in the summer will take time to click this term but is confident it will happen soon.

“As we grow and progress as a team and get to know each other things will improve,” Shaw said.

“I would still consider this as a pre-season for this group in that regard.

“I am consistently happy with the attitude and efforts but there is just stuff we need to clean up on.

“In terms of our execution in offence we are starting to make reads and really know where your team-mates are going to be.

“Those things take time.

“Sometimes they take a whole season, sometimes less – it just depends on that chemistry but when you have got guys who have got great attitudes and are good cultured people those things tend to happen sooner.

“We would all like to say it is going to happen overnight, but getting to know how our coaching staff wants to play defence and offence and all the points in between that and getting to know your team-mates so where do they like the ball and what makes them feel comfortable is a process.

“But I am ecstatic with the guys that we have got here and we think that will happen sooner rather than later.”

Wolves will now hope to overcome a Bristol side who lost 78-73 to London City Royals before thumping Sheffield Sharks 92-60 last weekend.

“They have got some active big guys and guards that can make shots, so we just have to be ready to play,” Shaw said.

“We need to improve the defensive communication and the rebounding as a whole.

“I think we can attack a little bit more on the offensive boards and control the defensively glass better.”

After tackling Bristol Worcester will have two weeks to prepare for their next clash against Manchester Giants at the University of Worcester Arena on Friday, October 19 (7.30pm).

“That will be a chance for everybody to be in practice and almost treat that like a training camp situation for us,” Shaw said.

“It is not going to be a break by any means but that two weeks without a game will give us some time to training, time to gel and do a couple of team chemistry things.”