ESSEX Leopards go into Sunday’s key home game against the Reading Rockets looking for revenge against the side who knocked them out of the National Cup earlier on this season.

The sides meet at the Brentwood Centre – tip-off 4pm – in the final EBL Division One game of the year.

And Robert Youngblood’s team will be aiming to avenge the79-75 home loss they suffered against the Rockets in the semi-final of the cup just two weeks ago.

“We don’t feel we did ourselves justice when we last played them” said Youngblood.

“We showed against Bradford at the weekend that we can play much better than we did in the semi-final, but we really need to stop digging ourselves into holes.”

Leopards now have the best winning percentage in EBL Division One following Sunday’s 78-73 overtime win against Dragons and they sit in third place with a 6-1 record with games in hand over the sides above them.

Rockets – who Leopards defeated in the National Trophy – go into Saturday’s home game against Medway Park Crusaders in sixth place with a 5-2 record.

But Kris Clark, who top scored for the Big Cats with 23 points last weekend, feels the strength of Leopards’ squad will enable them to come out on top once again.

“I'm really happy that our team showed that we can overcome adversity in important times of the game against Bradford,” said Clark.

“We did well and finally having great production from off the bench helped us greatly and made sure we win the game.”

Sunday’s match will be Leopards’ last year of the year before they return to action on Saturday January 4 at Leeds Carnegie.