The West Australian basketball writer Shayne Hope takes a look at each side's chances for the forthcoming NBL campaign, which begins on September 24.

PERTH WILDCATS

Coach: Rob Beveridge

Squad

MARTIN CATTALINI (forward): Veteran big man brings grunt and ability to score in return to Perth

KEVIN LISCH* (guard): Intense on defence, will be required to score as well

DAMIAN MARTIN (guard): Beveridge's leader, brought over from Sydney Spirit

SHAWN REDHAGE (forward): New captain looking to lead his team to a 24th consecutive finals series

BRAD ROBBINS (guard): Looking for an injury-free year as backup for Martin

PAUL ROGERS (centre): Relieved of captaincy duties to focus on returning to full fitness

LUKE SCHENSCHER (centre): 216cm giant adds another dimension to the team

JESSE WAGSTAFF (forward): Scoring power off the bench

STEPHEN WEIGH (guard/forward): Needs to step up in second NBL season

DREW WILLIAMSON (guard): Top shooter from the perimeter

Championships: 4

There is plenty of pressure emanating from the WA basketball community for the Wildcats to continue their record run of 23 straight appearances in the play-offs. New coach Rob Beveridge comes across from Sydney Spirit as a highly-credentialled mentor and should provide the new-look team with the best chance to extend the run. Martin Cattalini, Luke Schenscher and import Kevin Lisch join Beveridge's main man Damian Martin as new faces likely to play key roles in the team. Staying fit is the key and the return from injury of veteran Paul Rogers and feisty guard Brad Robbins will be like gaining two more recruits.

Prediction: Fourth

ADELAIDE 36ersCoach: Scott NinnisSquad: Adam Ballinger, Matt Burston, David Cooper, Nathan Herbert, Brad Hill, Jacob Holmes, John Gilchrist*, Cortez Groves*, Chris Molitor, Darren Ng.

Championships: 4

There's no doubt the Sixers will be chasing a deeper run into the play-offs after stumbling at the first hurdle last time around. They lost Luke 'Big Red' Schenscher when he went searching for an overseas deal and signed former South Dragons centre Matt Burston as a replacement. Schenscher ended up doing a U-turn and ended up in Perth, a situation that will add extra spice to the festive season encounter between the rival clubs in Adelaide on December 23. John Gilchrist and Cortez Groves could provide a challenge to New Zealand duo Kirk Penney and CJ Bruton as the league's pre-eminent backcourt combination.Prediction: ThirdCAIRNS TAIPANSCoach: Aaron FearneSquad: Gary Boodnikoff, Ian Crosswhite, Aaron Grabau, Phil Jones, Richard Melzer*, Julien 'Skip' Mills*, Tony Rampton, Dusty Rychart, Dwayne Vale, Kerry Williams.Championships: 0The Snakes finished tied for seventh with a disappointing 11-19 record last season and will need to improve under coach Aaron Fearne. But where that improvement is going to come from is the sticking point. Veteran guard Phil Jones has been brought in with former Hawks forward Dusty Rychart and imports Rich Melzer and 'Skip' Mills. But the loss of Martin Cattalini and Darnell Mee will hurt.Prediction: EighthGOLD COAST BLAZECoach: Joey WrightSquad: Pero Cameron, Tyson Demos, Adam Gibson, Chris Goulding, James Harvey, Michael Joiner*, Anthony Petrie, Ayinde Ubaka*, Greg Vanderjagt, Mika Vukona.Championships: 0New coach Joey Wright is desperate to lift the Blaze off the foot of the table and has swung the axe in an attempt to get the job done. Success is vital for the league's youngest franchise to drum up support in one of the most hotly-contested sporting markets in the country. Gold Coast may surprise at times but not enough even the most diehard fans on the Glitter Strip will have their money on James Harvey and co lifting the championship trophy at the end of the summer.Prediction: SeventhMELBOURNE TIGERSCoach: Al WestoverSquad: Chris Anstey, Daryl Corletto, Nathan Crosswell, Tommy Greer, Daniel Johnson, Luke Kendall, Ben Knight, Tim Lang, Sam Mackinnon, Matt O'Hea, Mark Worthington.

Championships: 4

Since announcing their intentions to join the re-vamped league the Tigers have been many experts' pick to go one better than their grand final series loss to South Dragons last season. But the defection of top forward David Barlow to Europe and a serious hip injury to dual league MVP Chris Anstey have set the Tigers back. Mark Worthington has crossed town from the now-defunct Dragons and will play a major role in any success, with Anstey on the sidelines until January.Prediction: SecondNEW ZEALAND BREAKERSCoach: Andrej LemanisSquad: Tom Abercrombie, Dillon Boucher, CJ Bruton, Oscar Forman, Paul Henare, Kirk Penney, Alex Pledger, Rick Rickert*, Awvee Storey*, Tony Ronaldson, Jeremiah Trueman, Corey Webster.Championships: 0The Breakers will start legitimate championship favourites when their season tips off at home to Cairns on September 24 and could become the first team to take the title overseas. They fell agonisingly short of a grand final appearance last season, losing to Melbourne in the semi-final series, but have kept the majority of their already strong group together. That continuity within the squad and familiarity with coach Lemanis' game plan, coupled with the Dragons' extinction and the Tigers player drain, should see the Kiwi outfit mount a serious championship challenge.Prediction: FirstTOWNSVILLE CROCODILESCoach: Trevor GleesonSquad: Michael Cedar, Peter Crawford, Jeff Dowdell, Russell Hinder, Stephen Hoare, Rolan Roberts*, Kelvin Robertson, Cameron Tovey, Corey Williams*, Brad Williamson.Championships: 0Townsville caused a storm during last season's play-offs, eliminating Perth in a highly-charged game on the road and pushing eventual champion South Dragons all the way to three games in the semi-final series. Corey 'Homicide' Williams will again lead "Croc Nation" with a series of loud-mouth comments and big plays, while former Wildcat Peter Crawford has decided if he can't beat them, he'll join them. Veteran guard John Rillie is a big loss (and he'll love reading that!) but the Crocs will still be in finals calculations.Prediction: FifthWOLLONGONG HAWKSCoach: Gordie McLeodSquad: Tim Behrendorff, Mat Campbell, Tim Coenraad, Larry Davidson, David Gruber*, Daniel Jackson, Rhys Martin, Tywain McKee*, Glen Saville, Cameron Tragardh.Championships: 1After coming back from the dead thanks to generous guarantor and Indian mining magnate Arun Jagatramka, there might be an element of Wollongong that is just happy to see the last remaining foundation NBL club still alive. But there's no doubt this passionate mob from the Illawarra region will put up a fight in front of its home fans and may surprise a few visitors. Could be in the play-off mix if favourite son and new coach Gordie McLeod can get his message through to a group with which he has little experience.Prediction: Sixth(*indicates import)WILDCATS FIXTURESFri, Sept 25 Wollongong v PerthFri, Oct 2 Townsville v PerthSat, Oct 3 Cairns v PerthFri, Oct 9 Perth v Gold CoastSat, Oct 17 Perth v AdelaideSun, Oct 25 Perth v MelbourneSat, Oct 31 Perth v WollongongSun, Nov 8 Perth v NZThu, Nov 12 NZ v PerthSat, Nov 14 Perth v CairnsSat, Nov 21 Gold Coast v PerthSat, Nov 28 Perth v Gold CoastSat, Dec 5 Perth v TownsvilleThu, Dec 10 NZ v PerthSat, Dec 12 Wollongong v PerthSat, Dec 19 Perth v AdelaideWed, Dec 23 Adelaide v PerthThu, Dec 31 Townsville v PerthSat, Jan 2 Perth v WollongongFri, Jan 8 Perth v NZSun, Jan 10 Adelaide v PerthSat, Jan 16 Perth v CairnsWed, Jan 20 Melbourne v PerthSat, Jan 23 Perth v MelbourneWed, Feb 3 Cairns v PerthFri, Feb 5 Gold Coast v PerthSat, Feb 6 Melbourne v PerthSun, Feb 14 Perth v Townsville