DANIEL Thomas expects the Sun City Plumbing Buccaneers to challenge for a top two position in 2012.

Last week Thomas confirmed he will be plying his trade for the Buccs this season after acquiring a teaching job in town.

He makes his return to the Buccs ship after spending 2009 and 2010 with the team before moving to the East Perth nest last season.

The point guard said he was very excited about playing for the Buccs' enthusiastic fans again.

"To play for the Buccaneers is always a thrill and they have always had the best crowd in the SBL," he said.

"I think we will be very good next season. Depending on the signing of the second import it could change even more, but I would like to see us in a top two to four finish at least."

The signing is a big one for the Buccs who missed the playoffs for just the second time in the club's SBL history last season.

It comes on the back of the league announcing a significant rule change for the upcoming season.

Current SBL by-laws only allow two non-Australian citizens to be signed by any SBL team, with clubs being able to sign any NBL contracted player without restriction.

The newly introduced restricted player policy, which will be trialled in 2012, will see non-Australian citizens as well as any contracted NBL player that averages greater than 10 minutes of playing time have a restricted status.

Teams can only sign two restricted status players to their roster.

Thomas will line up alongside Michael Lay in the back court for the Buccs and said he is looking forward to the pair forging a strong relationship.

"Michael Lay and I will form a very quick and skilful back court with years of experience between us," he said.

"One word to describe what Mike and I will be is 'fun'.

"We are going to run and run and run until we can not run no more and defenders will have fun with us."

Thomas said he wants to bring a tough attitude back to the Eighth St stadium, something that was lacking in 2011.

"Last year's team seemed very up and down. They had the pieces to be a good team but lacked that aggressiveness and grunt that the Buccs had in years past," he said.

"I knew when I played for the Cockburn Cougars back in 2008, that if I was coming through the lane that I was going to get hit and it was going to be hard.

"We need to bring that style of play back ù that hard-nosed, don't lose attitude."

Article by Taylor Courtland (Gerladton Guardian)

Photo by Grant Lauterbach