Brisbane coach Andrej Lemanis has urged his men to chill out and not let a make-or-break NBL finals scenario change their approach against Illawarra on Thursday.
The Bullets (fifth, 12-13) are locked in a race with the Hawks (12-13) and Adelaide (13-12) for the last remaining finals berth with three games to play.
Brisbane travel to Cairns for another must-win clash on Saturday before hosting the Breakers in the last game of the regular season next Sunday.
Three wins should be enough for the Bullets to progress or possibly even two if the 36ers drop at least one of the three clashes against the Breakers, Melbourne and Perth on their tough run home.
Lemanis knows the stakes and after back-to-back wooden spoons since their re-entry into the NBL, he agrees it would be a setback to fall short again.
"Everyone knows the situation but you can't bring a stress level with it," he said.
"This is a fantastic opportunity for us; this is why you play for the opportunity to play in the playoffs.
"I'd be disappointed, the players too, but we've got a good opportunity here so that's not the focus."
Brisbane have lost their last four games, three of which have come against Sydney and the other to the Breakers on the road.
"Everybody's trying; hearts and heads are in the right place," Lemanis said.
"Let's let the game unfold, not get too stressed by what's going on because what are you going to do? Try harder just cause playoffs are on the line?"
A post-season campaign would do the off-contract coach's chances of extending his deal no harm but says it isn't keeping him up at night.
"That's a decision for somebody else to make; I've been around a long time as a coach so don't get stressed by those situations at all," he said.
