Cameron Gliddon will return from a three-game absence tomorrow night in Perth, but Skytrans Cairns Taipans head coach Aaron Fearne says improved team defence is required to beat the 6-0 Wildcats.

Fearne expects to ease Gliddon back into the Taipans rotation during their Perth-Melbourne road double this week.

“He’s still going to have to work his way back in. I’m sure he’ll fatigue a bit quicker than normal, but he’s got a good motor,” Fearne said.

Fearne admits Gliddon’s absence was a factor in Taipans’ recent defensive troubles; they’ve allowed more than 90 points per game without the reigning club Defensive Player of the Year.

“Our teams have defended very well, Aaron (Grabau) was a huge part of that, Kerry (Williams) was a part of that, and Cam is also wired that way to defend,” he said.“He takes a lot of pride in that, in the last three games we haven’t had it. It will be good to have him back.”

It’s not all on Gliddon though.

“We just have to defend better as a team. We’ve just been average, very poor at times, and that has to improve,” Fearne said.

“That’s as simple as I can put it. Each guy has to improve individually.”

Doing so will be a huge task against Perth, particularly against the NBL’s second and 10th leading scorers James Ennis (22.8 points per game) and Shawn Redhage (16.8ppg).Centre Matt Knight will also return for the Wildcats for his first game of the season.“With Ennis we’ll try to make life as tough as possible.

Matty Knight will be back, he’s a big body, Beal’s playing very well, Redhage is a game winner. They have a lot of weapons,” Fearne said.

The Taipans tip-off against the Perth Wildcats tomorrow night at 9.00pm Cairns time. The game will be shown live at the Casino Sports Arena via NBL.TV.