Phoenix confirm star's return

The South East Melbourne Phoenix are set to make a big selection call ahead of their Playoff Series against Illawarra, with Josh King confirming the return of Derrick Walton Jr. 

Walton Jr is on the comeback trail from a high-grade hamstring strain, but King is confident in making the big call on his star guard, despite still awaiting official clearance from the club’s medicos. 

“Right now, it’s keep everybody healthy. It’s, ‘let’s see if we can get D-Walt going’,” King told News Corp. 

“He is (going to play). I’m not even trying to hide it.”

Walton Jr last played on January 11, slipping on the court and injuring his left hamstring against the Brisbane Bullets. 

At the time, he’d overcome a slow start to the season to recapture some of his best form, averaging 21 points in the four games previous. 

While the Phoenix will go in as heavy underdogs against a Hawks side which has been the team to beat all year, they’ll back themselves in every step of the way. 

Having overcome a 0-5 start to the season, they know plenty about overcoming adversity.

“(It’s about) not thinking that we don’t deserve to be here, more so just having fun with the fact we’re here,” Walton Jr said. 

“I think we have a good chance (to advance) if we do what we do best.”

The Phoenix travel to Illawarra on Friday night to take on the Hawks, with tip-off from 7.30pm AEDT, live on ESPN.