Hard work key for 36ers coach
Adelaide coach Joey Wright has tipped it will be a matter of endeavour and grit rather than top-line brilliance as a wounded 36ers outfit faces an under-manned Melbourne and seek their first win against United for the season.
Melbourne has lost star import Casey Prather for the season to an elbow injury, while the Sixers will miss Mitch Creek and Anthony Drmic for the next few weeks.
Adam Doyle is out for the season with a fracture in his foot.
United is looking for a replacement for Prather but that is likely to take a couple of weeks.
Wright (pictured) will also try to break a hex against Melbourne this season after losing all three matches between the teams.
“We always owe every team,” Wright said. “We want to go out there and try to give everybody a crack.
“But definitely playing against these guys.
“They’ve gotten us three times already so it’d be great to beat them the fourth time.
“They’re missing Prather and we’re missing some pretty important guys too.
“I think it’s going to come down to who wants the game the hardest, who plays the hardest, who out-executes the other.”
With so much star power missing – Prather had been pencilled in for league MVP while Creek is enjoying a breakout season – it is likely to come down to whose bench runs deeper.
But Wright liked his odds if it came down to depth.
“I like our depth,” Wright said. “That’s where I think we can edge out a lot of teams, with our edge.
“Hopefully we can prove that – that is going to help us in this game.” Melbourne United v Adelaide 36ers 6.30pm (AEST)