PREVIEW: PERTH V TOWNSVILLE

TOWNSVILLE The undefeated Perth Wildcats are looking for their third straight win to start the season, and their next challenge will be against the Townsville Crocodiles tonight. If travelling to Perth is not already difficult enough for Townsville, they are not only on the back end of the fifth straight road game, but have a short turnaround to prepare since their game in Melbourne on Wednesday. The young Crocodiles had previously been very competitive on the road in their first three games but struggled badly against a red hot United team losing 62-93 and Shawn Dennis, a former Championship winning assistant coach with the Wildcats, will have to get their mindset ready to play in the toughest arena in the country. One player who has taken his game to another level for Townsville is Clint Steindl. He goes into this game as the equal leading scorer at 13.6ppg (with Brian Conklin) after scoring 19-points against Melbourne (equal career high). The Mackay junior is enjoying career best percentages from the field as well a perfect mark (13-from-13) from the free-throw line. With doubt about the availability of Damien Martin and Casey Prather through injury, Perth will rely heavily on Jermaine Beal to provide some extra punch. Beal has already led the Wildcats scoring in both games to date this year and has a solid history against the Crocs where he led the team in scoring three times last year and posted a season high 29-points. Even though Townsville have not won in Perth since the 2009 playoffs, it has not been all one way traffic since. Last year the Crocodiles whipped Perth by 22 at home – their biggest winning margin over the West Australians in 15 years – and also lost a close one in overtime in Far North Queensland. In the 50th game played at Perth Arena, this will present a fantastic environment for the raw Nicholas Kay and Mitch Young combination to challenge the veteran duo of Jesse Wagstaff and Matt Knight, both are in fantastic form to start the Wildcats attempt at 30 straight years in the playoffs. BY THE NUMBERS Head-to-head: 75 games played. Perth Wildcats: 53 wins. Townsville Crocs: 22 wins. In Perth: 37 games played Perth Wildcats: 30 wins. Townsville Crocs: 7 wins. 2014/15 at Perth: Round 6) Perth 93 def Townsville 78 by 15 Round 20)Perth 81 def Townsville 71 by 10 FAST FACTS LONG-TIME COMING – Townsville have lost their past 12 games in Western Australia. The last time the Crocs won in Perth was in the play-offs in February 2009. Perth have beaten Townsville 14 of the 16 games they have played over the last three seasons. This game ends a five-game road run for the Crocs and they head home to host Illawarra on Wednesday night. THE JUNGLE – This is the 50th game played at the Perth Arena. The Wildcats have called this home since the start of the 2013 season and is the biggest arena the NBL play at. Record at Perth Arena: Wildcats won 40 lost 9. BIG & TALL – This match features the tallest player in the League in Luke Schenscher (216cm) vs the heaviest Nathan Jawai (140kgs). Perth are the best defensive team by holding opponents to just 73 points so far. Townsville are allowing the most points at 87.6 per game.