Round one of the National Basketball League of Canada playoffs kicks off Friday night for the Windsor Express.
The team finished second in its division, setting the players up for a showdown with the Kitchener Waterloo Titans in a best-of-seven game series.
However, unlike in previous games this year, the Express will not be playing at the WFCU Centre. Instead, the team will be kicking off the first round at the Atlas Tube Centre in Lakeshore.
The reason for the change in venue is due to the the Memorial Cup taking place at the WFCU Centre in May.
Windsor Express Head Coach Bill Jones says his team is ready for the playoffs.
"We played them seven times and we have been successful," says Jones. "So what we have got to do is to keep the same mind set and understand what they are capable of doing."
Jones says playing at the Atlas Tube Centre provides an opportunity to create new basketball fans in the county.
"Windsor-Essex County has been a big part of what we have done since we have been here," says Jones. "We have played a lot in Windsor now to be able to bring it out to the county."
Windsor Express Point Guard Darren Duncan says his teammates have been preparing for the first round all week.
"We are extremely confident," says Duncan. "We feel like we are hitting our groove at the right time and that is what a lot of basketball is about is finding the chemistry and I think we are getting there."
He says each team member has a specific job to do in order to counter the Titans.
"The coaches have done a great job of preparing us for their style of play," says Duncan.
The first game begins Friday night at 7pm.