Rob Loe Recovers - Will Start Against the 36ers Tonight

“I’m just ready to go.”

Five simple words from injured Centre Rob Loe which have brought an enormous smile to Sky Sport Breakers Head Coach Dan Shamir’s face.

The experienced Tall Blacks Centre is fit to play in tonight’s season opener against the 36ers in Adelaide after throwing an almighty scare through the camp last week when he hyperextended his knee.

“It’s definitely playable, and I will be able to suit up,” says a delighted Loe who has done enormous work behind the scenes alongside Strength and Conditioning Coach Emily Nolan and Physiotherapist Jono Sandler.

“To play the opening game is huge for me, we’ve had such a long time to prepare for it and I’m just ready to go, the adrenaline is going to be flowing and I can’t wait for it.  Bone bruising is one of those things that can get sore, but hopefully it doesn’t cause any lasting damage.”

Coach Shamir says Loe is invaluable to his roster after such a long break, and he will look to his core group of Tall Blacks to carry the vast majority of the workload in the team’s first competitive game in 343 days.

“I can’t really predict how the game will develop, but Rob is an anchor for us on all accounts,” says Shamir.

“Knee injuries are always tricky, it’s the one organ you want to be very careful with, and when he hurt his knee, we didn’t know what was going to be the outcome, but we are very happy he’s good to go, and he will start.”

Shamir warns his team will take time to adjust to playing competitively again after a break of nearly a year – especially against Adelaide, a team playing their fourth game in a week.

Tom Abercrombie, Finn Delany and Tai Webster can, therefore, expect significant court-time.

“You lean on your core, the people who know how I want to play, the people who have good chemistry with each other, and Rob is a big part of that,” Shamir says.

But in what is further good news for the Breakers, Corey Webster is recovering faster than predicted from his hand injury and could be back sooner than expected.

The star Shooting Guard has resumed ball-handling skills following the accident in the Christmas break where he put a knife through his hand.

“Corey is making huge progress,” says Shamir.

“I look at him and see how he catches the ball and see how he dribbles the ball, and he’s making progress. It’s too soon for me to tell when he’ll be able to play, but I just know all I need from him is one good practice and see that he can catch, dribble and shoot, and I will play him."

Tonight’s NBL season opener against the 36ers in Adelaide is free to air on Prime at 9:30pm.

It’s also available on Sky Sport 4 and Sky Sport Now.