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NBL: Melbourne United could lose three stars for clash with Adelaide 36ers
By Roy Ward
Three Melbourne United stars could miss the club's showdown with NBL leaders Adelaide 36ers at Adelaide Arena on Thursday night.
Rio Olympian Chris Goulding (ankle), import Ramone Moore (injury not revealed) and Todd Blanchfield (head knock) could all be game-day withdrawals after battling injuries this week.
Todd Blanchfield of Melbourne took a head knock in Saturday's loss to Illawarra Hawks .Credit: Getty Images
Melbourne United maintained on Wednesday all three players were listed as playing against the Sixers, but those listings are subject to being fit on game day.
Goulding and Moore were rested earlier in the week, while Blanchfield took a knock to his head after being fouled in Saturday's loss to Illawarra Hawks and is understood to have taken an additional knock at training which will see his status become questionable.
Goulding sat out the second half of the loss to the Hawks after hurting his ankle, and while Melbourne has maintained his status won't be decided until game day, the club is not expected to risk a more serious injury.
Adelaide sit on top of the NBL ladder and are expecting a second consecutive sellout for Thursday night's game.
If they face a depleted United side they could also have the chance to claim the season series.
Melbourne looked to have locked up that series after their 104-73 thumping of Adelaide on New Year's Day which gave the Victorian side a 2-1 lead and a 34-point advantage, meaning the Sixers still need an unlikely 35-point win to overtake them.
If Thursday night's game does nothing else, it will offer the rest of the NBL a chance to see if Melbourne's offence has overcome the problems it faced from the Hawks' physical pressure defence.
Speaking on Tuesday, Blanchfield said ball movement and having multiple players looking to score would fix much of what went wrong last game.
"We have to keep kicking that ball around," Blanchfield said.
"Last time they double teamed the post and Adelaide did that to us last time too, so we need to get those kick-outs and move the ball because someone will be open if they are doubling down."
Blanchfield also said his side was preparing for a warm reception at Adelaide Arena.
"Not only does it get loud in there but at this time of year it gets hot in there too," Blanchfield said.
"I was speaking to Mitch Norton (from Illawarra) as they played there before us and he said it was nice and warm, so we need to stay on top of our hydration."
The NBL announced on Wednesday its apparel deal with Mitchell and Ness has been extended for the next two seasons with the US brand, famous for producing retro uniforms, making 1990s NBL retro singlets for this weekend's Heritage Round.
Adelaide will wear tops honouring their 1995 team against Melbourne, who will wear their regular singlets.
Then Melbourne United will wear black South East Melbourne Magic singlets for their sold-out home game against Cairns Taipans at the State Netball and Hockey Centre on Saturday night at 7.30pm.
The revival of the Magic' singlets is to honour the 20th anniversary of the 1996 championship team which included current Melbourne assistant coach Mike Kelly and former coach Chris Anstey.
Melbourne United play Adelaide 36ers in Adelaide on Thursday night, then host Cairns Taipans at the State Netball and Hockey Centre on Saturday night at 7.30pm.