Breakers unsure of who will suit up in Cairns

The SKYCITY Breakers will travel a full roster this week to Cairns, but decisions around who will suit up will be left until just before the game against the Taipans tips off on Sunday afternoon.

Both Rob Loe and Shea Ili will be on the plane on Saturday, but Head Coach Paul Henare says he is not sure if either of them will be fit to play.

"Right now it is just as important to have both with the group whether they play or not, we will leave those calls until we get to Cairns and see how both shape up after another training session and then travel.

"Shea has been getting closer for the past few weeks and has had to be patient and listen to the medical advice. If it was over to him he would have been playing by now, but it is important he listens to the experts and plays the long game, there is nothing to be gained by coming back too early.

"Rob is progressing nicely, we were initially hoping he wouldnt miss any action but sitting out last weekend was the right call, again we are not sure whether he will be fit to play but will have him with the group regardless."

Ili is just pleased to be another step closer to turning out for the Breakers - when he does it will be the first time on court as a fully contracted player after impressing at the end of last season when on a development player contract.

"This week has been another positive step for me towards playing, whether it happens this weekend or not I will wait and see, whatever the physio says I will do what I am told, even though I would love to be out there, I know I have to make sure I am 100% ready to go and we have to see how I get through the flight. Whenever it does happen though I will just be ready to do what I can to help the team, I will bring my energy to the group and hopefully help us get some more wins."

The team has enjoyed a strong week of practice ahead of what is this season the unusual experience of playing just one game over the weekend, after successive double headers.

"This week has come at the right time for us, the double headers are great, the players enjoy them and it puts a good pressure on all of us as a group to be organized and ready to go with short turnarounds. But equally it has been good this week to know we have one game and one opponent to prepare for and we have taken the chance to freshen up a little after a busy few weeks."

The NBL continues to be a tough competition for anyone to predict, with every team capable of beating everyone else, as was highlighted last night with bottom of the table Adelaide smashing the second placed Brisbane Bullets, taking out the win by 18 points in Brisbane.

Cairns v SKYCITY Breakers

Cairns

Sunday 27 November

5pm NZT

Live on SKY SPORT

Next Home Game

Friday 2nd December

North Shore Events Centre

v Illawarra Hawks

7.30pm tip off

Visit www.nzbreakers.co.nz for tickets

- This story has been automatically published using a media release from Basketball New Zealand