Otago Nuggets coach Alf Arlidge is reasonably satisfied with his side's draw.
Now the franchise has to get on with the serious job of filling the import slots.
Arlidge hopes the Nuggets will sign two overseas players in the next two weeks. He is looking for a centre, and someone with enough size to grab the odd rebound but whose main responsibility will be to nail shots from the outside.
In the meantime, local hopefuls will get an opportunity to strut their stuff at an open trial at the Edgar Centre today.
Arlidge said a "couple" of players from Christchurch were heading down to try their luck and one player was coming from Nelson.
Most of last year's extended squad will have a run with the exception of Tom Allan, who is on his honeymoon, and Hayden Miller, who has a shoulder injury.
The Nuggets open their season with a double-header in Auckland against the Harbour Heat on March 1 and the Auckland Pirates the next night.
Otago's first home game is the local derby against the Southland Sharks. It is also an opportunity for the Dickels to settle family bragging rights. Southland coach Richard Dickel will be hoping to extend the Sharks' unbeaten run (four games) against the Nuggets.
Last season, he had his younger brother Mark helping him. But the Tall Black point guard has returned to his home province, signing with the Nuggets for two years.
The Manawatu Jets are up next, one of the few sides the franchise has enjoyed success against in recent years. Then there is a Wednesday night game against the Sharks in Invercargill and an Easter Monday clash with the Hawkes Bay Hawks, with a return match in Dunedin the following Friday.
There are tricky double-headers in week eight, week nine and week 11, and the Nuggets round out the regular season with a home game against the Harbour Heat.
The Nuggets will be without Tall Black pair BJ Anthony and Leon Henry for the first five weeks. They will be busy with New Zealand Breakers in the Australian National Basketball League. Should the Breakers reach the playoffs, the pair could be absent for another couple of weeks.
NBL
Nuggets draw
HOME
March 9: v Wellington Saints
March 18: v Southland Sharks
March 24: v Manawatu Jets
April 13: v Hawkes Bay Hawks
April 28: v Taranaki Mountain Airs
April 29: v Nelson Giants
May 5: v Auckland Pirates
May 19: v Harbour Heat
AWAY
March 1: v Harbour Heat
March 2: v Auckland Pirates
April 4: v Southland Sharks
April 9: v Hawkes Bay Hawks
April 20: v Manawatu Jets
April 21: v Nelson Giants
May 11: v Wellington Saints
May 12: v Taranaki Mountain Airs
