Melbourne United captain Chris Goulding has urged his squad to remain focused as they prepare for a cross-town derby clash that will determine their NBL play-off fate.
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With their semi-final hopes on the line, Goulding scored 23 points to help Melbourne defeat the Cairns Taipans on Thursday night and join the New Zealand Breakers and Brisbane Bullets on 14 wins for the season.
The 16-point margin saw United rise to fourth spot on the ladder with a 22-point advantage on the fifth-placed Breakers and 45-point advantage on the sixth-placed Bullets.
Each team has one game remaining in the final round, with Melbourne set to benefit from closing the regular season knowing the results of the other games.
"We're in a good position because we will know exactly what we need," Goulding said after the 99-83 win at Melbourne Arena.
The Breakers host the Phoenix on Friday night while the Bullets play the Taipans in Brisbane on Saturday, allowing Melbourne to enter Sunday's clash with the Phoenix knowing the margin of victory required to secure a semi-final berth.
"We are hoping that we will just need a good solid win but once again, our season is on the line," Goulding said.
"(Tonight's) win doesn't really guarantee anything; it just puts us in a position to keep fighting.
"If we come out with the intent that we showed for the most part in this game, fix some things and have it a little bit prolonged, we'll be a tough team to beat."
United have won three of the last four games to climb back into semi-final contention, Goulding pleased with the way his squad have responded to big-game pressure in the final month of the season.
"There were a couple of lapses (tonight) but for the most part guys were locked in, we were hungry defensively for a large percentage of the game and then running and attacking," Goulding said.
"I think it's showing us that's when we are at our best."
United's fourth quarter against Cairns paved the way for victory as they outscored the visitors 31-16, forcing six turnovers that resulted in 12 points to boost their winning margin.
Coach Dean Vickerman is expected a fired-up Phoenix outfit that would love nothing more than to spoil United's charge to the finals, despite the loss of inspirational captain Mitch Creek and Kendall Stephens to injury.
"They have a chance to not let us get to the play-offs, we have a chance to win the series 3-1 this year," Vickerman said about the Phoenix clash.
"We know (coach) Simon (Mitchell), we know the leaders of that group, it's going to be a hell of a battle."
Australian Associated Press
