THE Cairns Taipans have called for their support of the NBL this season to be rewarded with a place in next year's competition.

Basketball Australia announced yesterday it would reveal the make-up of next season’s league in Sydney on Thursday.

Pictures: Cairns Taipans 2009-10

BA chief executive Larry Sengstock said in a statement yesterday the number of teams in the competition was yet to be determined, with the NBL commission still considering clubs’ submissions.

Taipans president Denis Donaghy said he was confident the Taipans would be included if they were given a "fair go".

"What I mean by that is I think the league and the commission – the people who make the decision – should be taking care of the people who put their hands up and made sure there was a league this year," Donaghy said.

The league was in danger of not going ahead last season after the Melbourne Tigers and South Dragons pulled out of the league, leaving the competition with only seven clubs.

The Tigers eventually returned to the table, with the "new NBL" going ahead with eight clubs.

While Cairns has struggled to meet all financial criteria for re-inclusion – and is still about $300,000 short of the required $500,000 working capital – Donaghy said its efforts to make sure it was a part of the 2009-10 league should be rewarded.

"(The clubs that made sure the competition survived) are owed some loyalty by the league," Donaghy said.

"If that’s taken into consideration, yes, I’m confident (we’ll be there)."

Donaghy said the waiting had been tough for the club.

"It hasn’t been a very pleasant couple of weeks just hanging in limbo but now we know there’s going to be an announcement next Thursday, that’s good news," he said.

While the date may be set, the Taipans’ place in the league is not assured, with Sengstock saying yesterday that "only teams that could prove their long-term financial viability to the satisfaction of the NBL commission" would be included.

"Ultimately it’s up to the NBL commission to decide on whether, based on the merits of their submission, an application measures up to our criteria or if the inclusion of a team is in the best interests of the competition," Sengstock said.

"As a result, we don’t know if we will have eight teams next season, nine or 10 until we have had the chance to analyse all submissions in detail and perform our due diligence."

Donaghy said, in anticipation of entry next season, Taipans head coach Aaron Fearne, general manager Mark Beecroft and board member Craig Hartman were preparing team lists.

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