BENDIGO Spirit coach Simon Pritchard says he will use the team’s final two practice games in Perth this weekend to try a few new things ahead of their October 13 start to the regular season.

“We’ll be looking at perhaps some things we have hidden and haven’t shown people,” the fourth-year coach said.

“Because we are in Perth, no one around the league will see that video-tape, so we will do some things in preparation for Melbourne that we can hide.

“It won’t be shared around the league.”

The Spirit start their season against Melbourne Boomers at the State Basketball Centre, before their first home clash against Dandenong Rangers on October 20.

The weekend’s two practice matches against Perth Lynx will bring the total number played this pre-season to eight, with the first six having all been played against their first two regular season opponents for a 3-3 record.

Pritchard said the trip west would be valuable on another score, with the Spirit to get their first look at the Lynx ahead of a round three match-up in Perth on October 26.

The schedule of eight practice matches has easily been the most extensive in Pritchard’s time at the club.

He believed the playing group had gelled quickly in their short time together.

“We’ve done really well with the group dynamics, they’ve worked well together,” he said.

The final piece of the puzzle for the Spirit – Canadian import Jamie Scott – is due to arrive in Bendigo next Wednesday.

The club officially launched its season at Bendigo Town Hall on Wednesday night.