Time is rapidly running out for the Parramatta Basketball Association's two New Zealand imports, Tyrone Davey and Rangi Kennedy, who have both failed to live up to expectations in this year's Waratah Championship League (WCL) competition.
Incoming head coach Merve Tait, himself a Kiwi, was full of praise for his two recruits at the start of the season and promised Parramatta fans would also be impressed by the ability of both players.
To date, neither player has shown the type of form expected of an 'import' player and to make matters worse, many other teams in the competition are enjoying great success with their American imports.
As a result, the Wildcats are perhaps one of just three teams without a genuine chance of making the playoffs, unless their fortunes change dramatically in July and August.
That change of fortune can only be achieved through higher contributions from both of the Wildcats imports, who need to reflect upon the faith shown in them by coach Tait at the start of the season and rise to the occasion over the concluding rounds of the competition.
The Wildcats host the similarly-ranked Penrith Panthers at the Auburn Basketball Centre, Lidcombe at 5pm this Saturday and must win this crucial game or say a final goodbye to any playoff aspirations.
Parramatta and Penrith are both currently languishing at the bottom of the competition table and Saturday night is the final straw for each team.
The Wildcats may at least have an edge in confidence, with the Panthers currently on a horror twelve-game losing streak, which includes a high-scoring 114-91 loss to the Sydney Comets last Saturday night and an embarrassing 83-74 loss to a severely under-manned Bankstown Bruins on Sunday.
In contrast, the Wildcats had an opportunity to sit back and enjoy a bye round.