Kilsyth Cobras coach Justin Schueller says his side expects to be in the NBL1 championship game

Ahead of Saturday night’s NBL1 qualifying final against the Ballarat Miners, Kilsyth Cobras coach Justin Schueller says his side expects to be in the championship game

Kilsyth Cobras coach Justin Schueller

Kilsyth Cobras coach Justin Schueller has set the bar pretty high.

As his side prepares to begin its NBL1 men’s finals campaign against the Ballarat Miners on Saturday night, he says the Cobras expect to make the NBL1 championship game,

The Cobras have battled injuries and inconsistency throughout the season but still managed to secure a pivotal top-four spot, which earns them a second chance in the post-season.

Kilsyth begins its finals journey on the road to Ballarat for a tough test against the top seeds but Schueller believes his team is ready to live up to its own lofty standards.

“We have got an expectation we will be there on the last day and we will see how we go,” he said. “They’ve been the standout all year. We are excited, it is what we wanted, we wanted the double-chance.

“It’s a good challenge going into Ballarat and we want to play our best at this time of year and, provided we are healthy, we will give it a good shot.”

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An injured Owen Odigie is in doubt for NBL1 finals. Picture: Quinn Rooney

Kilsyth’s season has been so riddled with player shortages that its full squad hasn’t played a game together all year.

And with Owen Odigie injured and Tohi Smith-Milner set to fulfil his New Zealand national team duties, the finals won’t see Schueller’s roster challenges get any easier.

The Melbourne United assistant-coach concedes it has been frustrating the Cobras haven’t had a clean run at the season but he won’t let that hold as an excuse.

“It’s been a new challenge,” Schueller said. “The team we recruited hasn’t played together yet. We haven’t had all 12 guys on the floor at the same time.

“(But) what it has done has given other guys opportunities to step up.

“Sean MacDonald has gone to another level for us, Tohi has really benefited from having that extra pressure to perform.

“We don’t make any excuses. It would be nice to have all 12 guys fit, healthy and ready to go.

“Owen being out for the rest of the year does hurt us, he is a big piece of what we do, but it won’t stop us from giving it our best shot.”

Tohi Smith-Milner will be on NZ international duties. Picture: Darren England

Despite all the curveballs thrown Kilsyth’s way this season, Schueller is ready for his team to seize the opportunity that awaits them over the next four weeks.

“Any team that’s in the finals can get it,” he said. “We have seen our tight the league has been all year and all these teams are in a good position.

“I think the double-chance and home finals help. For those teams from now on, it is survive and advance mentality and that’s what we have got.”

The Cobras face the Miners in the first NBL1 qualifying final on Saturday night (7.30pm) at the Minerdome in Ballarat.