SEB Salinas is happy with the Joondalup Wolves' start to the men's SBL season that has seen him star, but he's also looking forward to some additions helping the Wolfpack vie for the 2014 championship.

The Wolves are coming off winning the 2011 men's SBL championship, being minor premiers in 2012 and finishing runner's-up to the Lakeside Lightning in last year's grand final, but they have done quite well so far in 2014 to sit on a 7-4 record in third position despite being slightly undermanned.

Damian Matacz and Brad Robbins are among the players not to return from 2013 while the Wolves haven’t signed an import yet for 2014, but Salinas, Trian Iliadis and Rob Huntington have stepped up big time.

Huntington is averaging 22.1 points and 7.8 rebounds a game and Iliadis 25.0 points, 6.5 points and 4.8 boards while Salinas has been inspirational threatening a triple-double most games, and even notching one along the way.

He is averaging 22.4 points, 10.5 rebounds and 5.8 assists a game and could very well be in the form his career that began at the Stirling Senators, and has now continued with distinction at the Wolves.

Joondalup has now won three of its last four matches this season and Salinas only expects the Wolves to keep improving as the season goes on.

"We are tracking along quite nicely so far this year. We are sitting third on the ladder at the moment which is good for us. We were aiming for around that at the start of the year, and with the group we've got we have done well. We have had some injuries and players not available which has been tough, but we've had a good start to the year," Salinas said on SBL Radio on 91.3 SportFM.

"We lost the league MVP Damo from last year and Robbo as well so they leave big shoes to fill. We tried to keep the same group of guys as much as we could and we have some good young guys coming through off the bench as well, which is handy for us.

"To be sitting third I'm happy with that and the team is as well. Hopefully with guys coming back and some new additions, we'll be right up there come finals time."

It is another huge weekend for the Wolves coming up as well starting on Friday night against the Perry Lakes Hawks at the WA Basketball Centre and then against the Geraldton Buccaneers at Joondalup Basketball Stadium.

Their sole focus is on return to the WA Basketball Centre to face the Hawks first up though.

"It brings back good memories playing there for sure. Every SBL player can say that Friday night is always tough to play especially away from home, but we just have to keep doing what we have been doing," Salinas said.

"Not much changes for us this Friday. If we just stick to our guns that we have all year, and play good D and keep the team to a low team then we should be fine.

"Perry Lakes has a lot of firepower, though, with Purser, Cecil and Easley. It will be a tough ask, but hopefully we can get the job done on Friday."

Article by Chris Pike