DrinkWise Preview: Round 1 - Perth Wildcats vs South East Melbourne Phoenix

After knocking over Tasmania at home in game one, the Wildcats face a tough assignment in the Phoenix who will be desperate to bounce back from their disappointing season opener against Melbourne United.

Perth head into the clash a couple of guards down with New Zealander Tai Webster ruled out with a lower-leg injury sustained against the JackJumpers, while Kyle Zunic will also miss due to a foot issue.

Head coach John Rillie sees the injuries as an opportunity for others to step up.

"Guys will be disappointed about their performance (on Friday night), guys will be disappointed they didn't get to play, but opportunity comes so you better be ready to take the opportunity," Rillie said.

Rillie described import Jordan Usher as a "difference maker" on the back of his stunning 35-point debut.

Usher entered the season talking about his ambitions to win the Defensive Player of the Year Award, but showed he can also be an offensive weapon when he dragged the Wildcats over the line from 12-0 down in the first term on Friday night.

“When he’s at a high level, he’s a difference maker in the league,” he said.

“The attractive thing is, in this league, he has got a great physicality and size at his position, where last year we were probably a little small at that position.

“We can talk about his offence, but at the defensive end, he is going to take the best player on the other team on most nights — it’s good to have a two-way player that embraces that.”

Game Details

Who: Perth Wildcats vs South East Melbourne Phoenix

When: 1pm WST Sunday 1 October

Where: John Cain Arena

Watch: Live on ESPN via Kayo or Foxtel

Opposition watch

South East Melbourne dropped their season-opening Throwdown clash against Melbourne United on Thursday night, 82-67.

The Phoenix welcome Gary Browne into the line-up after he missed game one with hip soreness, but fellow import Alan Williams will remain out of the side as he recovers from knee surgery and will be replaced by Tyler Cook.

Big man Gorjok Gak will miss again, with DP Anzac Rissetto his replacement.

There's a couple of familiar faces among South East Melbourne's coaching staff in former Wildcats assistants Mike Kelly and Luke Brennan.

Last time they met

The Wildcats will have happy memories from their last visit to John Cain Arena after defeating the Phoenix 106-99 back in February.

Three-time NBL MVP Bryce Cotton led the scoring that day with 26 points as Perth recovered from a slow start to produce a brilliant final-quarter comeback.

The win, capped off by a 41-point final term, ended the Phoenix's season in the play-in tournament.