They've won three titles in four years but the New Zealand Breakers are going into uncharted territory for this year's NBL finals series.
The Breakers won their titles in 2011, 2012 and 2013 after winning the minor premiership and thus having home advantage for the finals series.
This year they concede that advantage to the Cairns Taipans and must win at least one game in the best of three series in Cairns if they are to win a fourth title.
Sides with that advantage have a very good record in the finals but Breakers coach Dean Vickerman isn't worried after their 2-0 semi-final victory over the Adelaide 36ers.
"Adelaide were on a 10-game win streak. We'll just start again," he said.
"This group has been up for big moments. All through the year when we really needed a win I thought they really stepped up when it mattered."
Breakers swingman Tom Abercrombie has been there for all of the titles and says the players will look upon it as a new goal to achieve.
"It's a different challenge for us, a position we haven't found ourselves in before. But we've been a very good road team all year this year and we just have to back ourselves to get the job done," he said.
Cairns, the beaten finalists when the Breakers won the title in 2011, have won three of their four clashes with the Breakers this year, and though their only loss was at home, Abercrombie says the venue is intimidating.
"The atmosphere and the energy up in that place is going to be unbelievable. Their fans get right into the game and it's a great environment up there to go and play basketball. Hopefully we can quieten them down a little bit."
Adding to the challenge is the fact that game two on Sunday afternoon is less than 48 hours after Friday's game one in Cairns but Vickerman says the team is preparing for the quick turnaround.
"We've got our flights booked and we get back as early as we possibly can. We're taking an extra massage person on the road to try and help us with that extra one per cent."
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