"The benchmark": Throwdown mind games begin

With Melbourne and South East Melbourne sitting in first and second on the ladder, this Saturday's Throwdown looms as one of the biggest in history.

Not only that, Throwdown 30 will likely be exciting and high-scoring, with the pair both sitting in the top three in points per possession, bench points, net rating and three-point percentage.

Despite this, the two sides come into the John Cain Arena clash in very different form.

Hosts South East Melbourne, who are currently on the franchise's first-ever five-game win streak, are excited for the challenge of playing the competition's "benchmark".

"It's going to be a really good challenge for us to kind of see where we're at against the best team in the league," Phoenix coach Josh King said in Thursday's post-game press conference.

"I don't get into all that little brother, big brother [talk], although we do play with that chip on our shoulder mindset.

"They're the best team in the league and have been the benchmark for a while."

On the flip side, Melbourne, after starting the season 9-0, have lost their past two contests to Sydney and Illawarra.

Despite this, two-time NBL champion Andrew Parkinson isn't worried about United, who have won 20 of the 29 Throwdowns to date.

"I'm not worried about United at all, they'll be fired up for this Throwdown game on the weekend," Parkinson said via Friday's episode of NBL Now.

"They're still in the upper class [of teams], with Adelaide and the Phoenix. Those three have crept away from the pack a little bit."

Saturday's Throwdown tips off at 8pm AEDT, live on ESPN.