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Key Wildcats OK for NBL grand final series

Justin ChadwickAAP
Perth Wildcats' Mitch Norton is expected to be fit enough to play in the NBL grand final series.
Camera IconPerth Wildcats' Mitch Norton is expected to be fit enough to play in the NBL grand final series. Credit: AAP

Perth Wildcats coach Trevor Gleeson is confident Mitch Norton and Luke Travers will be able shake off minor niggles in time to front up to Melbourne United in the grand final series opener at RAC Arena.

Norton has been battling a hip injury in recent weeks, while Travers pulled up with a sore calf from the 2-1 semi-final triumph over the Illawarra Hawks.

The Wildcats were already dealt a huge blow last month when three-time MVP Bryce Cotton was ruled out for the rest of the NBL season, and they can ill afford to lose any more players.

Gleeson says Norton and Travers will be able to play on Friday night.

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"Mitch will be good. He's just on light duties. Both him and LT were on light duties today, but we're all good," Gleeson said on Thursday.

"When Luke cooled down the next day (after the win over the Hawks) he got a little sore in the calf, so we just wanted to make sure we're not pushing it when we don't have to."

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Game two of the grand final series will be in Perth on Sunday, meaning Norton will have little time to recover if his hip injury worsens in game one.

"We're just going to have to play with that when it happens. If he gets injured and can't play Sunday, then that will be the medical call," Gleeson said.

"But we are focusing on Friday night first."

Cotton was just a day away from potentially suffering permanent damage when he underwent emergency surgery to treat a haematoma to his left quadriceps on May 23.

The Wildcats initially held out hope he could return for the grand final series, but that has since been snuffed out.

"I've made a phone call to Mr Miyagi from the Karate Kid and he's getting his hands warmed up, so he might be able to magically heal him," Gleeson joked.

"It is what it is, and we've got that next man up mentality. It's just bad timing. It's unfortunate, but the milk is already spilt, so let's get on with it."

If the Wildcats are able to buck the odds and win their third straight title, Cotton won't be awarded a Championship ring given he wasn't part of the grand final series.

Gleeson has a solution to that problem.

"I'll buy him one. We got here because of him, so I don't think we'll short change that," he said.

Melbourne United were the standout team of the regular season, but they had to come from 17 points down in the series-deciding game of their semi finals series against Phoenix to book their spot in the grand final.

United big man Jock Landale scored 27 points in the series decider to showcase his match-winning potential, while the Wildcats are also well aware of the threat sharpshooter Chris Goulding presents.

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