Basketball: Breakers in for a wild stoush

By PETER JESSUP

The Perth Wildcats are a wounded animal cornered on home turf and that makes them a dangerous combatant for the Breakers tonight.

The Wildcats are struggling after five losses in a row and their 4-10 win-loss record is not considered satisfactory for the team that was last season's beaten finalist in April.

So, of course, there has been talk of player replacement and pressure on the coach, Mike Ellis, who is in his first year as head coach after four seasons as assistant.

It's enough to spark the Wildcats to a big performance in front of their home crowd and it's a factor that has been mentioned by Breakers' coach Frank Arsego in the build-up.

"This is a hard game for us - I see the Wildcats as being in the same state we were just a few weeks back.

"They have all the individuals but it's not coming together. They will find the right formula soon, just as we did, and I hope it's not on Saturday night."

The Breakers flew to Perth on Thursday, which has given them time to familiarise themselves with the time difference and last night they trained at the game venue at game time (11.30pm NZ time).

By rights they should deal to the Wildcats, who sit one behind them on the competition ladder in 10th spot.

The same 10 players who have made the last two road trips are again on this one and stability in the squad is a factor Arsego strives for.

"I always believe it's best to commit to the same 10 guys and work with them, through the good times and the bad. It's showing some benefit for us now."

Dillon Boucher was cleared of any lingering injury after splitting his head on the floor of the North Shore Events Centre as they beat the Melbourne Tigers on Wednesday night and will play. Blake Truslove had a tooth dislodged by an elbow to the jaw but is ready to play.

The defence put on the Tigers was a benchmark Arsego wants to meet every game.

"That was playoff intensity. If we can make that a habit it will hold us in good stead when the pressure comes on our offence. Defence builds pressure on the opposition."

The Wildcats have been missing guard Ricky Grace but he comes back from injury and will steer their game. He and forward Tony Ronaldson are the main dangers and if the Breakers can shut that pair down the way they dealt to the Tigers' Lanard Copeland and Andrew Gaze they should win.

Certainly there is much self-belief in the team now, and a drive to push into the second half of the season and to the playoffs with some momentum.

The turnaround for the Breakers took a while coming. They started the season at A$6.50 with the Aussie bookmakers and have since slid out to A$41, which is looking a worthwhile bet now as their odds come back in at the rate they went out.

Arsego had tapes of the Sydney Kings with him for each player, set with voice-over instructions for their next game on December 27. He'll deliver those after the Wildcats game so the team has its mind on the ball over Christmas.

NZ Breakers (with shirt numbers): Paora Winitana (8), Pero Cameron (11, capt), Mike Chappell (20), Phill Jones (21), Aaron Olson (22), Dillon Boucher (24), Ben Melmeth (30), Paul Henare (32), Blake Truslove (41), Iona Enosa (55).

Perth Wildcats: Travis Lane (4), Rashad Tucker (11), Ben Thompson (12), Liam Rush (13), Ricky Grace (15), Matthew Burston (22), John Jackson (25), James Harvey (33), Tony Ronaldson (34).