By David Ryan

ESSEX Leopards face arguably their biggest weekend of the season as they travel to Hemel on Saturday evening, before Bradford Dragons are the visitors to the Brentwood Centre on Sunday.

The visit from the Dragons tips off at 4pm and will see Leopards defend the only unbeaten record in Division One against a side who have stuttered after a good start to the season, and have lost three straight games, including a National Cup exit against Worthing Thunder on Sunday.

Saturday’s trip to Hemel is effectively a shoot-out for home court advantage in the quarter-final stage of the National Trophy.

Both sides have already qualified for the last eight of the competition, with Leopards holding a 3-1 record and hosting Newham Neptunes at Harlow Leisure Zone in their final group game on November 29 and Hemel having three wins from five games.

Leopards made it two wins from two Division One games as they returned from the long trip to Tees Valley Mohawks with an 82-80 victory on Saturday.