Basketball: 'Effort areas' the key to taking out Perth

Dillon Boucher of the Breakers. Photo / NZ Herald

Veteran forward Dillon Boucher has identified the effort areas as being key to the SkyCity Breakers' hopes of securing back-to-back ANBL titles in Perth tonight.

The Breakers can clinch the grand final series with a game to spare if they knock over the Wildcats at Challenge Stadium.

Boucher says theyre going to have to bring a high intensity from the outset as he expects Perth will come out firing.

"And we know if we win all the effort areas, rebounding, diving on loose balls, all those types of things and just execute to perfection then, you know, we've got a very, very good chance of winning this thing."

That thing would be Boucher's third championship.

And the SkyCity Breakers believe it's the little things about Tom Abercrombie that make him one of the most valuable players in the ANBL.

Last year's finals MVP will play in game two against the Wildcats in Perth tonight, with a decision to be made this afternoon if he starts or not.

Veteran CJ Bruton says his experience will be a big factor in front of a parochial Perth crowd.

"It's very important. Tom's been around a little while now and he's been over here a few times to know what happens and what goes on and how a crowd can change momentum."

However both sides are still overcoming bouts of illness on the morning of game two.

The Sky City Breakers have nursed both Boucher and Gary Wilkinson through illness while the Wildcats have just picked up cases of sickness.

The worst is key guard Damian Martin, but Wildcats forward Matt Knight says everyone will play.

He says he knows Martin and nothing will stop him from playing in a grand final.

Game two of the grand final series tips-off at 11pm NZT.