In his second season with Melbourne, Kickert said the roster was tight-knit group.

He said with this factor and added stability, United could lay the foundation for a big campaign.

This time last season United was also well placed, but it was thrown off balance with the resignation of head coach Chris Anstey after one game.

A loss of early stability meant Melbourne was never able to get up a full head of steam after that, having a 7-7 win-loss ratio at the halfway point of the season and going on to miss the play-offs.

Kickert said Melbourne would get its best idea to date as to how it was progressing in a pre-season hit-out against Cairns Taipans at the Ballarat Minerdome on Saturday night.

The encounter comes at the end of a three-day community camp for Melbourne in Ballarat – the second year United has had an extended visit in the city.

Kickert said it was great to get out and about in Ballarat, a community he was familiar with.

He said he had played representative games in the city as a youngster and with relatives in Ballarat had been a regular visitor over the years.

Kickert said Ballarat was a great fit for United, being so knowledgeable about basketball.

Cairns will have a strong Ballarat flavour for the clash.

Ballarat has become a lucrative recruiting ground for the Taipans over the past few years and will feature three former Miners in this game –  Shaun Bruce, Ash Constable and Anthony Fisher.

Cairns confirmed late this week Constable, in his second season with the North Queensland club, and Fisher as development players for  2015-16.

The Taipans are Fisher’s second NBL team, having been a development player with Perth Wildcats last season. 

Line-ups for Saturday night’s 7pm tip-off: