Melbourne United coach Dean Vickerman has jumped at the chance to claim the underdog tag for his side in their NBL semifinal series, declaring the heat is on Sydney to live up to their billing as top seeds.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Kings have been ladder leaders all year, claiming a club-record 20 wins from 28 games and three wins from four meetings with United.
But there are queries over veteran centre Andrew Bogut (back) and captain Kevin Lisch (ankle), who have endured injury troubles throughout the season.
Sydney will host game one of the best-of-three series at Qudos Bank Arena on Saturday night.
"I think there's absolutely more pressure on them," Vickerman told reporters on Thursday.
"They've been on top of the ladder all year, we're expected to get swept and they're expected to win the championship.
"That's a lot of pressure."
Sydney are warm favourites, however, United are quietly confident of an upset after hitting their straps in recent weeks.
Four wins in their past five regular season games saw United clinched a finals berth and they now loom as a dangerous proposition.
"We come into the finals with good form and we're playing some of our best basketball," Vickerman said.
"The group's in a much better mindset than we were last time we played them and there's a different level of confidence with us as we go in.
"We're in a series where it's still do or die for us.
"It's the same as we've been playing the last month and it's good for us to put ourselves in a position where we have to be great to go ahead and win."
United are wary of Kings sharpshooter Casper Ware, who has tormented his former teammates this season.
Ware averages 28.8 points a game against United, up from a season average of 18.1 points.
"He's been absolutely great and the numbers don't lie about what he's done against us compared to the rest of the league," Vickerman said.
"We've got to make his life tough."
Australian Associated Press
