The next mission is to skip the earlier playoff games.
Last season, the defending champions had to do it the hard way.
They had to win three games in four days to clinch the title and managed exactly that. But plan A would be to avoid such a hectic schedule this time around.
The format for the playoffs sees the third-ranked side play the sixth-ranked team, while four plays five in the other playoff game.
The winners progress through to the semifinals. But the top two ranked teams get direct entry into the semis and will have the fresher legs.
The Nuggets can improve their prospects of a top-two finish with a win over the Franklin Bulls in Dunedin tomorrow.
They welcome back star centre Sam Timmins.
He had a wedding to attend in the United States and missed the away games against the Canterbury Rams and Hawke’s Bay Hawks.
Back-up centre Jack Andrew stood-in admirably. But the arrival of Tai Webster and some hot form from Michael Harris and Todd Withers saw the Nuggets bank back-to-back wins and clinch a playoff spot.
Neither of those games went totally to plan, though. The Nuggets made a sluggish start in both and coach Brent Matehaere is hoping his side will be more focused from the tip-off this time.
"It we want to make the top two [this game] is important ," he said.
"But that is secondary to what we’ve got to focus on and that is the next possession and making sure we are executing at both ends of the floor as well as we can.
"If you look at our starts, we haven’t been happy with the way we’ve been executing in those moments and we’ve got to make sure we really focus."
Star point guard JaQuori McLaughlin (knee) remains unavailable, but the Nuggets have an otherwise full squad to pick from which has created a few selection dilemmas.
The Nuggets have won the last five games between the teams, including a 91-72 win in Auckland in May.
But the Bulls have been one of the form teams in the league. They have threats across the court and have brought in some new personnel since the loss to the Nuggets.
They have picked up import Jared Wilson-Frame from the Canterbury Rams and Matthew Freeman has joined the squad, though Tall Black Dan Fotu and American guard Rickey McGill shape as the biggest scoring threats.
"[The Bulls] play with a high intensity and they get after it defensively. That has been their thing and they’ve been successful with it.
"We were successful up there, but they are a very different team now."
The Nuggets have had some changes as well. Webster has added a spark since he arrived a couple of weeks ago.
Fellow guard Nikau McCullough has returned and is a scoring threat as well.
And with Timmins back from a short break, the Nuggets will have a much stronger presence inside.
The Nuggets will wear a special charity strip for the game. The uniforms are being auctioned off to raise money for KidsCan.
National Basketball League
Dunedin, tomorrow, 4pm
Otago Nuggets: Sam Timmins, Todd Withers, Michael Harris, Tai Webster, Nikau McCullough, Robbie Coman, Jack Andrew, Darcy Knox, Matthew Bardsley, Josh Aitcheson, Joe Ahie, Max Pearce.
Franklin Bulls: Daniel Fotu, Jamaal Brantley, Isaac Davidson, Jared Wilson-Frame, Rickey McGill, Matthew Freeman, Jayden Bezzant, Dom Kelman-Poto, Te Tuhi Lewis.
