The Geraldton Buccaneers are hoping an injury-free line-up will keep their championship window alive after being outplayed in the final quarter of the NBL1 West grand final last year.
It's been a while since the Buccaneers' trio Aaron Ralph, Mat Wundenburg, and Liam Hunt suited up in the same side.
Three years to be precise — and to date, the men have collectively tallied up almost 1,000 games.
Forward Liam Hunt said they last laced up in the 2019 grand final against the Joondalup Wolves.
"This is actually the first time that Mat, myself and [Aaron] Ralph have been on the same court since 2019," he said.
"I haven't really thought of that before, it's pretty cool, I haven't put it into that perspective before."
Aaron Ralph said their last time playing a full season together was very rewarding, given it ended in a championship win.
"When we all played last together [it] was a pretty successful season … [I'm] really looking forward to playing with those two boys [again]," he said.
Injuries have kept them apart since the 2019 grand final.
Injury ward at the Buccs
Last year, 400-gamer and team captain Aaron Ralph was forced onto the sidelines in a coaching role.
Ralph tore his ACL, with surgery ending his 2021 season.
"So last year, 12 months of rehab was very long, but I'm glad that's over," he said.
Ralph said the coaching role had allowed him to influence the side while he was in recovery.
"I still wanted to be involved, so I asked if I could come help as an assistant coach," he said.
"I really enjoyed [seeing a] different perspective of the game and how much work goes into behind the scenes as a coach."
Hunt, who made his comeback to basketball after a catastrophic injury to his lower leg, was able to sympathise with teammate Ralph.
The centre spent two years on the sidelines after tearing three of the major ligaments in his knee, with his Perth surgeon Pete D'Alessandro labelling his comeback a "miracle".
Hunt said Ralph dished up some honest truths to players.
"It was good to have his bluntness on the court," he said.
"He was that little voice that we needed on the bench to reassure us that we were doing good or needed to pick it up."
Hunt said he was excited to see Ralph not only return, but pick up the captaincy once again.
Senior player Mat Wundenburg also missed a period of play in 2021 with a broken foot.
Having already turned 40 this year and with 474 games under his belt, Wundenburg remained tight-lipped on his future plans to play on.
"You never know," he said.
Ralph said the future for the towering 2-metre-tall trio was up in the air.
"Yet to be confirmed, we'll see how the year goes," he said.
"Mat's a bit older than us, but I think I've still got a few more years to go."
The Buccs tip off in their first home game of the season tonight in a regional clash against the South West Slammers.
