Dante Exum has had scant court time in the Utah Jazz's NBA playoff battle with the Los Angeles Clippers, but the Australian remains keen and ready to help in any role his team needs.
In a surprise strategic move Exum's Australian teammate Joe Ingles, usually a small forward or shooting guard, has taken over his point guard role.
Exum says Jazz coach Quin Snyder has told him to "always be ready" and if he does the right thing on the court his minutes will grow.
"I'm ready for whenever my number gets called," Exum told AAP.
"I've got that itch to get out there and play my game.
"Until then I'll support the team."
The Jazz, holding a 3-2 series lead, will eliminate the Clippers from the playoffs if they win Friday's game six in front of a ravenous home crowd in Salt Lake City.
The winner of the series moves on to play the top-ranked Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference semi-finals.
Exum was left on the bench for the first three games of the Clippers' series, but in a positive sign played 12 minutes in game four and four minutes in Tuesday's game five 96-92 win.
The minimal court time in the playoffs is a change from the regular season.
Snyder started the 21-year-old from Melbourne in seven of the Jazz's last eight regular season games.
He averaged 18.6 minutes in 66 regular season games.
In a risky but successful move, Snyder has used the experienced, 203cm-tall Ingles to guard the Clippers' 183cm All-Star point guard Chris Paul.
It is Exum's defence that will likely determine how much court time he will receive in the playoffs.
"He said to always be ready and when you come in defend, do the right thing and that will keep building into more minutes," said Exum, when asked what Snyder had said to him.
If the Clippers win game six and square the series the deciding game seven will be on Sunday in Los Angeles.
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