BASKETBALL
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Hawks guard Tyson Demos will ramp up his training schedule this week to help lighten the load on Wollongong's back court for Friday's clash with Townsville.
The defensive specialist returned from a two-game injury lay-off in Sunday's 86-78 loss to the Melbourne Tigers.
He is back on court and hungry for a return to full fitness.
"I am going to slowly build it back up. I am going to do a half a session today and a bit more tomorrow," Demos said yesterday.
"Hopefully that will help me get my cardio back up and obviously play a few more minutes and help the boys get the win."
"It has been tough for Rotnei [Clarke] and Rhys [Martin] having to take on a lot of work because we are down two guards at the moment."
"I am looking to come back and play a few more minutes this week."
Demos played less than seven minutes against the Tigers but was only able to complete a solitary training session in the lead-up to the match.
With five days between that fixture and the Hawks' trip to Townsville this week, he is likely to see an increase in court time as he returns to peak condition.
"Whatever Gordie throws me, I am going to be ready either way," Demos said.
"I have only been out a couple of weeks but I am going to get in there and do the same stuff that I have been doing the whole year and that is concentrating on defence, bringing the energy and lifting the boys on the defensive end."
The 25-year-old will have his work cut out against a strong Townsville guard rotation this Friday night.
"They are a pretty tough team; they have lost a few close games and they are not too far off the mark," Demos said of the Crocs.
"They have got some very good scoring guards - Peter Crawford, [Steven] Markovic - so they have got a lot of firepower.
"Also down low they have got their big man [Brian] Conklin, so he is going to be tough down low as well."