How to watch & talking points: Perth v Melbourne (Play-In Game)

07 Mar 2026

perth wildcats

melbourne united

finals

The Perth Wildcats host Melbourne United in a do-or-die Play-In Game on Saturday night.

Perth Wildcats v Melbourne United
Saturday, March 7, 8pm AEDT
RAC Arena

How to watch‍

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Tickets

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Talking points

History
‍While it is a home game for Perth, United travel over to the West having won 10 of their last 13 games in RAC Arena against the Wildcats.

It’s a record that has been spoken about by both teams in recent years and is one that can’t be overstated going into an elimination game.

Power forward showdown
‍Kristian Doolittle has arguably been the best two-way player in the league this season, with his ability to score the ball at a high rate and also take on a big defensive assignment on the other end.

The engine room for the Wildcats will be hoping to limit United’s Finn Delany, who is fresh off a career night against Tasmania, where he put up 33 points.

No looking back
‍While there’s no bad blood between Jo Lual-Acuil Jr. and his former team, when it comes to a single elimination game in the post-season, it means that much more.

The Wildcats managed to lure the former United champion back home to the west this past off-season and he’s returned the favour with some big games against his old club.

Now, with everything on the line, the only thing that matters is the next 40 minutes.

Point guard issues
‍Perth’s point guard troubles once against became the hot topic after their loss to the Phoenix and their task doesn’t get any easier here.

With Shea Ili back in the lineup for United, the Wildcats young guards will face another backcourt that likes to get after them defensively and try to turn them over.

What they're saying

Perth coach John Rillie looking ahead to Saturday's fixture after losing to South East Melbourne:
“We really come away feeling like none of our players helped the team at a really high level, so I look at that as a lot of room for improvement on Saturday.

“The reason we play the regular season is to earn another opportunity, so we'll flush that [result] and move on.

“We'll have a new opponent too on Saturday, who won't play the same way as South East Melbourne, so we have to adjust and prepare for that.”

United coach Dean Vickerman on playing in Perth against the Wildcats:
"The ball pressure from South East Melbourne on Perth was obviously key [on Wednesday night], so we might be able to try to replicate that in some way on Saturday.

"We do have a good record playing in Perth for whatever reason and we enjoy playing there, and I know personally I love battling against a [John] Rillie coached team, so I'm looking forward to it.