The Perth Wildcats are confident they boast the scoring firepower and defensive mettle needed to become NBL champions for an 11th time this season.
The star-studded Sydney Kings, under master coach Brian Goorjian, will start the upcoming campaign as hot favourites to win the title.
But the Wildcats are expected to be right in the mix, especially following the signing of former NBA sharpshooter Dylan Windler.
With Bryce Cotton still at his peak and players such as Windler, Keanu Pinder, Tai Webster, Kristian Doolittle, Elijah Pepper and Next Stars talent Izan Almansa around him, the Wildcats are brimming with confidence.
Perth's biggest weakness last season was rebounding.
But the addition of Windler, who holds the G-League single-game rebounding record with 33 boards, will help the Wildcats eliminate that weakness.
The Wildcats' most recent championship success came in 2020, and they're hungry to add title No.11 to their cabinet this season.
"Well, the goal is the championship always," Doolittle said.
"We finished third last year, our expectation was to finish first.
"That was the goal that we had going into last year, and the same going into this year.
"I feel like we've gotten better in every aspect - changing up things offensively, putting more of an emphasis on our defensive side, which is going to be what makes or breaks us.
"I feel like we can score at will."
Doolittle had a massive ice pack on each knee when he fronted the media on Monday.
The American said that was purely a precaution following the club's hectic pre-season, which saw them travel to Japan before last week's pre-season Blitz on the Gold Coast.
Doolittle says he's in no doubt for the Wildcats' season opener against South East Melbourne Phoenix at RAC Arena on Friday night.
"This is from three weeks of travel, a lot of games, and then having a couple of days off and coming back into the swing of things," he said of the ice packs.
"You're going to be sore, that's all it is."
Doolittle averaged nine points and 6.7 rebounds per game last season, and the 26-year-old American feels even better placed entering his second NBL campaign.
"It's a lot easier," he said.
"I've been tasked with speaking up more, which is not my strong suit, I guess. But you know, I'm someone who loves to win."
