EVERY day Crocodiles coach Paul Woolpert works with youngster Todd Blanchfield he is being left with headaches.

Each National Basketball League game and each practise session just makes the experience more intense.

The bad news for Woolpert is that Blanchfield has no intention of slipping his mentor a Panadol worth of respite. The good news is that the American is enjoying every minute.

"He's making it hard for me not to have him on the floor," Woolpert said of Blanchfield's impressive two-game foray into becoming a key cog in the Crocs' title quest.

The 19-year-old swingman knew this was his season to stand tall, take on added responsibility after two years as a "bit" player and has not buckled so far.

All of a sudden Blanchfield is playing in-excess of 20 minutes a game and making them count, hence Woolpert's headaches.

He is averaging 11 points, two rebounds and 2.5 assists.

"The best thing for me was that I stayed here in the off-season," Blanchfield said of playing for the Townsville Heat in the QBL.

"I got to work out with Cam (strength and conditioning coach Whiting) every day, work out with Liam (assistant coach Flynn) every day and got to play under Liam as well. And I had a good ABA season (so I just want to) try to carry the confidence over to ... here."

Even he concedes sometimes that can be easier said that done, but it's a case of so far so good.

So much so that Woolpert believes the Mackay product will one day stamp himself as a "25 to 30-minute" player and wouldn't rule it out in this campaign.

"He's played very well and he's ... going to play a very important role in this team as the season progresses," he said.

"With his athleticism, length, scoring ability and ability to defend, he's going to demand a lot of minutes. I hope he wants those extra minutes - he's playing like he does."

But while young, Blanchfield is level headed. He knows two solid weeks don't make a season.

It's why he, along with a few of the club's other youngsters, turns up early each day and leaves late. With red-hot teams like Perth visiting The Swamp on Saturday, getting better is the only option.

"I'm happy with the way I'm going but I've got to try and keep it going," he said.