Blanchfield: 'Don't underestimate wounded 'Cats'

Having played three seasons in Perth, Todd Blanchfield knows just how passionate the Wildcats fans are.

RAC Arena is an intimidating environment for a travelling team. Consider playing in front of 10,000+ fans, a sea of red and an air of expectation around the NBL’s most successful team ever.

So, while the travelling Illawarra Hawks will go in as favourites on Friday night against a Bryce Cotton-less Perth, it’s not just an undermanned Wildcats roster they’ll have to come up against.

"Sure we beat them last season but this is a whole new year," Blanchfield told the Illawarra Mercury. 

"Bryce is one of the best players if not the best player in the league and he leaves a massive hole for them, but you saw on the weekend at their home, Keanu Pinder gets 34 points and they're able to beat Sydney, who are supposed to be title contenders. So anyone can beat anyone on any given night."

The home fans sure to be willing their side to victory.

"It's Perth, they get 13, 14, 15,000 people, a big crowd, they have a very long winning history in Perth and they're very proud of the club, and so they should be, it's a very successful club and it's a fun place to play," Blanchfield continued. 

"It's a bit of a pain to get to, I think it's a four to five and a half flight there, but they're the fun environments to play in."

The Hawks sit top of the NBL standings with six wins from eight games, an incredible turnaround from where they were this time last year, at two wins and seven losses from their first nine appearances.

"We're confident walking into every game, any building, whether it's at home or away. JT (Justin Tatum) has confidence in one through 12, one through 13,” Blanchfield added. 

Illawarra takes on Perth at RAC Arena on Friday night at 9.30pm AEDT, live on ESPN.

The Wildcats will welcome back Tai Webster, while Hawk Trey Kell III remains on the sidelines with a back injury.