BENDIGO Braves coach Ben Harvey expects some growing pains as his side prepares to start its SEABL national championship defence on Saturday.
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The Braves face long-time foe the Dandenong Rangers at Bendigo Stadium, with their 2016 championship banner to be unfurled before an 8pm tip-off.
Harvey conceded the side's preparation had been far from ideal, with second import C.J. Aiken only arriving last Saturday.
"It was very frustrating as a coach. You have a plan A two of three weeks ago and then had to go to plan B very, very quickly," he said.
"As a coach you have always got to be ready and I was ready. C.J. Aiken will fit our group absolutely brilliantly - he's ready to go.
"We're just pleased to have everyone here now. We finally have our pieces together, but it will take time.
"We have three new players to the group ... it's not going to happen straight away.
"But as a coach you have to be patient."
Despite the limited preparation together, Harvey is confident he has assembled another championship team.
Gone are 2016 SEABL season most valuable player award winner Jeremy Kendle (New Zealand), defensive player of the year and three-time national championship player Damien Johnson, and starting point guard Kevin White.
In their place come new imports Aiken and Dyami Starks, a dynamic shooting guard who excelled during his college career at Bryant University, and new point guard Adam Doyle.
"One thing you want is for players not to pay for the name on the back of the singlet, but the name on the front of the singlet, which is the Bendigo Braves," he said.
"(The season) is a journey. We have set some short term goals before Easter - we want to achieve those. We are really looking forward to the challenge of going back-to-back championships, but it's along way away."
Meanwhile, the new-look Lady Braves tip-off their campaign against Dandenong at 6pm on Saturday night.
The Lady Braves won’t have their full roster available for round one, with import Chante Black unavailable.
Coach Jonathan Goodman still has one other import roster spot to fill.
The Lady Braves will field their most inexperienced team in two decades against Dandenong, with veteran guard Jane Chalmers the only player to have more than 100 games of SEABL experience.
