TAIPANS import Skip Mills is likely to line up in his first game for the club against the Melbourne Tigers on Monday night after precautionary scans on his injured hamstring yesterday revealed no major damage.
Combination guard Mills strained his hamstring on Tuesday, forcing him out of that night’s opening pre-season clash with the Gold Coast Blaze and Wednesday’s follow-up match. But an ultrasound and X-ray yesterday, ordered by the club to ensure the problem was no worse than initially thought, cleared Mills of damage and the exciting guard is likely to make his debut against the Tigers.
"I knew it wasn’t really anything serious," Mills said after not experiencing sharp pain in his leg since suffering the strain. "But the team just wanted me to do it to be sure."
Mills admitted it was better to be safe than sorry.
"I don’t want to push it and take some steps backward before the season starts," he said.
Mills, who arrived in Cairns on trial with the Taipans and impressed enough to win a contract for the upcoming NBL season, was excited at the prospect of lining up against the Tigers.
"I’m looking forward to Monday and will do everything in my power to get back (on court)," he said.
He admitted missing the team’s first match had been frustrating.
"I know a lot of people are unfamiliar with who I am and what I can do, so I wanted to get out there and show them," he said of the missed Gold Coast series.
His had been in good form and was looking forward to the chance to jell with teammates.
"I was getting very, very comfy with the offence," he said. "I was starting to put my own twist on the offence."
Mills is looking forward to matches against the Tigers – the first, on Monday, is open to the public with Tuesday’s second game a closed scrimmage.
While he has heard Melbourne is a strong outfit, Mills is undaunted by the Tigers’ reputation.
"I’ve never been really big on figuring out what other teams are doing," he said. "If we execute what we’re doing, then things will look after themselves."
While Mills is likely to be available on Monday, Aaron Grabau faces a longer stint on the sidelines after undergoing surgery on his broken hand yesterday.
Tickets to the game against the Tigers are available at the Taipans’ headquarters at the Bendigo Bank Basketball Centre on Aumuller St, or at the gate before the 7pm tip-off.
Taipans season tickets are also available there until next Friday.
