Brisbane coach Justin Schueller is eyeing bigger scalps after two vital wins shot the Bullets back into a crowded NBL pack.
The first-year coach could breath a sigh of relief after his side hung on for five and one-point defeats of the lower-placed Cairns and Illawarra in round nine.
They had lost three straight before that, the Bullets battling in fourth quarters in a trio of gutting losses.
It improved Brisbane to 7-7, good enough for sixth place ahead of Sunday's trip to face ladder-leaders Melbourne United (10-3) but just one win behind the second-placed Tasmania JackJumpers (8-5).
Losses for United - in historic fashion against a red-hot Cairns - and the Sydney Kings (7-5) shook up the ladder after a two-week break for international fixtures.
An NBL powerhouse in the 1980s, the Bullets have made finals just once in seven seasons since returning to the league and only once finished with a record above .500.
Former United assistant Schueller can see green shoots but knows they'll receive a thorough examination against his former team on Sunday.
"We've played a lot of teams that sit right below us," he said.
"Our job now is to start trying to catch those above us.
"They (United) took the loss last week, they'll be hungry but that's what we want at this stage of the year.
"If we're going to do anything this season it's got to go through Melbourne at some point.
"We can't wait to go and really test ourselves."
Exciting rookie forward Josh Bannan is on track to return from a concussion that ruled him out of Sunday's win over the Illawarra Hawks, while captain Nathan Sobey missed training on Tuesday.
Schueller said the Tokyo Olympian had a bout of gastro and was confident he would suit up for a 250th NBL appearance on Sunday.
The former Taipans and Adelaide 36ers talent has averaged 18.4 points per game this campaign, on 14.8 field goal attempts.
But he took just four shots on Sunday - finishing with eight points, seven rebounds and six assists - in what Schueller argued was his best stat line of the season.
"Any time you've got an Olympian there's brilliance right there," he said.
"It's been forgotten how much he carried this club, for a long time.
"We wanted to put other pieces around him, where his talents can shine through.
"He's been a real leader ... a big reason why we've been able to change culture so quickly."
