Perth Wildcats skipper Damian Martin is confident Bryce Cotton won't be rattled one bit if Cairns target the star import in Monday night's NBL semi-final clash at Perth Arena.
Cotton blew the Taipans away in game one, nailing 34 points to lead Perth to a 91-69 rout in Cairns.
The Taipans must win Monday's game to send the series to a decider, and Cotton looms as their biggest obstacle.
The 24-year-old only arrived at the Wildcats in January, but he's already established himself as one of the best players in the NBL.
Cotton has averaged a league-high 23 points per game this season, and Martin is confident the American will be able to handle anything Cairns throws at him.
"One thing I've noticed about Bryce is how composed he is out on the court," Martin said of Cotton, who played in the NBA for Utah, Phoenix, and Memphis.
"We've had teams already try to double team him and deny him the ball, yet he still ended the regular season averaging the most points per game of any player.
"And even the other night when he went close to 40 points, at no stage did he take a bad shot.
"He's so unselfish. He's happy to make the pass if it leads to a better look for us.
"He won't be rattled by anything they throw at him, and I'll back him to make the right decision if they do double team him."
Cotton, who recently turned down a 10-day NBA contract with the Atlanta Hawks in order to play out the NBL season, isn't the only headache for Cairns.
Wildcats import Casey Prather, who finished second in the league MVP award, is also firing on all cylinders after overcoming a niggling foot injury.
Cotton and Prather represent the best import duo in the league.
And with Martin controlling the defensive end, Perth's title defence looks good.
The defending champion Wildcats will start as hot favourites to beat Cairns.
But Martin said his team weren't taking anything for granted.
"We know full well during the regular season we had to beat them in overtime on both occasions to get the wins at home.
"They're a great team and it's all on the line for them. It's not going to be a 20-plus point win like it was the other night, because they're a much better team than that."
Cairns big man Nate Jawai scored only four points from 14 minutes of court time in game one.
Jawai's impact was limited after getting into early foul trouble, and the Wildcats will be hoping to shut down the fringe Boomers centre again.
HEAD-TO-HEAD THIS SEASON
October 8 - Wildcats beat Taipans 84-74 in overtime in Perth
January 16 - Taipans beat Wildcats 80-78 in Cairns
January 20 - Wildcats beat Taipans 84-78 in overtime in Perth
February 5 - Taipans beat Wildcats 85-77 in Cairns
February 17 (SF) - Wildcats beat Cairns 91-69 in Cairns
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