"We're over that now. Sure, it affected us last weekend, their coach, Jeff Green said of the 89-114 loss to defending champions Nelson. "It had a mental effect on the guys but we're back to work now, we've forgotten about it.
The positive aspect was the way the squad stuck together and supported each other, he said. Everyone sure there was nothing in the claim.
Waikato have a tall and experienced line-up, with seven players over 2m, but Green picks their one hole as lack of an agile, defensive rebounder who can quickly get the ball back up court to their attack.
Daryl Johnson took plenty last weekend but that hampered their front-court game.
"I've challenged them to improve there - if they don't, I could be looking for someone on Monday, Green said.
All three sides are injury-free. Auckland will be looking to their new import, Western Samoan Iona Enosa, to make his mark as he settles into their game plan.
Enosa, who came via Brigham Young University in Hawaii, has his work cut out for him against a strong Waikato front-line including Strother, Johnson and former King and Tall Black Konrad Ross.
Like most United States imports, he has had trouble adjusting to the more stringent interpretation of foul calls here.
