Testing time nearly over for Slammers

Wins against the East Perth Eagles and Kalamunda Eastern Suns this weekend will have the Printsync South West Slammers in a good position as the race to play-offs begins, according to coach Charles Nix.

Nix said the weekend was important because it was the final test from a tough two-month period.

Since the start of May, the Slammers have played three double-headers and also travelled to Geraldton and Kalgoorlie in a gruelling six-week period.

“If we get the double this weekend then we are in a good position,” Nix said.

The last time the Slammers met the Eagles was in week three, when they led by as much as 20 points before falling by 11 at the final whistle.

“We are going in confident,” Nix said ahead of the game at the Morley Sport and Recreation Centre.

“We were finding our chemistry back then and were lacking personnel.

“We feel we are a lot better prepared this time.”

Nix said Tre Nichols, Brian Voelkel and Michael Lay would all get a chance to play defence on David Williamson, who scored 30 points in their last meeting.

The game against the Eagles will be followed by a game against the Kalamunda Eastern Suns at the Eaton Recreation Centre on Saturday night.

The Slammers defeated the Suns convincingly in week eight when co-captain Clive Weeden scored a season-high 25 points in a 98-80 win.

The depth of the Slammers will be tested this weekend, with both Travis Durnin and Corey Richardson to miss again due to knee injuries. Nix said both players were at least two weeks away.

He refused to let the injuries be an excuse, believing in young players such as Brody England and Phoenix O’Neill.

“It is an opportunity for our younger guys to come on and have an impact,” Nix said.

“We don’t see it as an excuse. We see it as an opportunity.”