Roberts returns amid Snakes system tinker

Ahead of Cairns' first home game in NBL24, head coach Adam Forde is confident his Taipans can overcome the injury adversity that has ripped through his team to open the new campaign. Cairns is missing two starters in Taran Armstrong and Tahjere McCall, and development player Kian Dennis. They will, however, bring in import Josh Roberts for his NBL24 debut tonight.

Armstrong was initially slated to only miss Round 1, but it's now likely he'll remain sidelined until the Taipans return from the NBLxNBA tour in Round 5.

“Roberts will be pretty limited, we just got the clearance for him in the last day,” he said.

“We still have to rely on our guys, Bul (Kuol) Patrick Miller, Sam Mennenga and Sam Waardenburg to get the job done. The message is the same, we got to compete to win."

Roberts is coming off an ankle injury at the NBL Blitz, but Forde believes the versaility of his line-up will be aided by the return of the former Manhattan Jasper.

“He is capable. With the extensive career he’s had, 33 minutes of playing time is a drop in the ocean,” Forde said.

“He can shoulder that burden because that’s the calibre of the player he is.”

Forde’s run-and-gun style was limited without his two key playmaking talents of McCall and Armstrong in the loss to New Zealand. But believes his team’s depth is still based on that style and with adjustments made, his philosophy should be more effective in against the Phoenix in their Round 2 opener.

“We want to make sure we don’t burn Patrick (Miller) out to put other guys in their positions, there is a subtle difference and change, especially on the offensive end,” he said. “But nothing that’s going to be apples to oranges, it will still be the Taipans’ identity.” 

Cairns will tip off against South East Melbourne tonight at 7:30pm AEDT live on ESPN via Kayo.

They will then face Queensland rivals Brisbane on Saturday night.