Melbourne Tigers boom recruit Sam Mackinnon has boldly tipped the NBL title will remain in Victoria this season.
Mackinnon, one of three star injections during the off-season for the defending champions, said his new club and cross-town rival South Dragons shape up as the only legitimate contenders.
When asked if he could see the title heading outside Victoria, Mackinnon told Sportal: "No, I don't think it will."
"New Zealand with CJ (Bruton) has got a chance, Cairns if they can get it together, but right now you would have to say it's us and the Dragons as favourites."
"I hope it (local rivalry) is great for the league. All teams have picked up a few players so it's made the teams better and hopefully we can build some momentum."
Mackinnon joins fellow MVP winner Chris Anstey, Boomer David Barlow and star imports Rod Grizzard and Ebi Ere in arguably the most devastating starting five in league history.
The Dragons - with Brian Goorjian at the helm - have also crafted an impressive roster, signalling the next installment of a bitter rivalry in the southern state.
"They're putting together a strong team," Mackinnon said of the Dragons.
"As soon as Brian (Goorjian) comes people will follow Brian."
"I can feel the rivalry building already. I don't know if it's just because 10 years ago I know how good it was between the Tigers and the Magic. There was genuine hate there."
"I don't know if there'll be genuine hate again but you are going to want to have bragging rights."
Mackinnon, 32, looms as a pivotal piece of the Tigers' bid for back-to-back titles after overcoming a debilitating knee complaint which wiped last season for the former Bullet.
"The knee is coming along nicely," he said.
"I played four games in seven days and pulled up pretty well from that."
He has played between 20 and 25 minutes in the warm-up matches and expects that to be around the mark when the season begins, on Sunday against Sydney for the Tigers.
"I think we are so deep it's not a situation where I am going to have to shoulder the load like I've done for the past 10 years," Mackinnon explained.
"I'll only be playing 25 to 30 minutes a night."
"I would love to be out there for 40 minutes a game but that's not what is going to happen in this team."
"Everyone is going to sacrifice certain things for us to be successful. It's going to be a lot of fun."
"We look good on paper but I have been in teams that have looked good on paper and haven't been able to get across the line."
"I think this is a different team. It's a different group of guys."
"I have landed in the right spot, that's for sure."
Meanwhile, the Tigers have been fined $4,000 for playing import Ere in a pre-season game without an international clearance.
Ere suited up for the Tigers in their 125-106 pre-season win over the Townsville Crocodiles in Mackay on Saturday.
NBL interim CEO Chuck Harmison said Ere played without obtaining the necessary paperwork from the league.
Ere contributed 25 points on the night.