Basketball: Breakers hungry for their first victory on the road

Corey Webster's early absence did not help the Breakers' away record. Picture / Jason Oxenham

A trip to the side sitting second-last on the competition standings seems an ideal way to snap a winless streak on the road.

And considering the Breakers last month swept past Sydney without too much difficulty - one of the Kings' seven defeats in 10 games this season - the challenge appears even more straight forward.

But neither the Kings' record nor the two teams' recent history illustrates the task awaiting the Breakers across the Tasman tonight, when the Kiwi club will attempt to triumph in enemy territory for the first time in the campaign.

The Breakers boast a respectable 5-4 record, sitting third and within one win of second. But that position has been built entirely on a formidable home front, where Dean Vickerman's men are unbeaten.

There are mitigating circumstances for the road woes - Corey Webster's early absence and a couple of close losses among them - but the Breakers remain only one of two teams yet to win away this year.

The other are tonight's opponents and, while the Kings may appear the perfect opponent for a duck-breaking victory, Vickerman knows they now possesses a level of talent that belies their record.

"They're a different team to the one we played," the coach said of the 12-point win four weeks ago. "We are not taking anything or anyone lightly. When they get some offensive flow they are as good as anyone."

Much of that enhanced offence has come courtesy of Al Harrington, a veteran of more than 1000 games and 16 seasons in the NBA. Harrington had yet to link up with the Kings when they fell to the Breakers last month but, after initially struggling to find fitness, the forward has begun to show his pedigree.

Harrington led his side with 27 points and 11 rebounds in last weekend's win over Adelaide. And Julian Khazzouh, Jason Cadee and Marcus Thornton will provide plenty of additional problems for Vickerman's defence.

Fortunately, that's one area in which the defending champions have recently excelled, conceding an average of 76.8 points to win four of their last five games. Which means, after coming close in Perth and being cruelly denied in Melbourne, there was one final box the Breakers still needed to tick.

"We are hungry to get this first road win," Vickerman said.