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Australia's National Basketball League has unveiled a new finals format that will increase participating teams to six.
Six teams will participate in a revamped NBL finals format with a play-in leg added to the league for the 2022-23 season.
The top two sides on the ladder at season's end will automatically qualify for the semis, leaving teams placed three to six duelling to keep their championship aspirations alive.
The third and fourth-placed teams will face each other in a sudden-death game with the winner semi-finals bound, and the loser dropping to another win-or-go-home game against the victor between teams fifth and sixth.
When the four semi-finalists are locked in, they will then compete in a best of three series before the regular best of five format in the finals.
"The end of the season will have a new level of importance and intensity, not to mention three new postseason blockbusters," NBL Commissioner Jeremy Loeliger said.
"Most importantly, more teams will remain in the championship hunt for longer, meaning more fans will continue to be engaged during what will be a more exhilarating finish to the season.
"The magnitude of these play-in games will be enormous with the fate of some clubs to be determined by do-or-die contests that promise to deliver a thrilling atmosphere.
"The NBA has had great success with its play-in tournament. We studied that model and are confident ours will see similar success."
Meanwhile, last season's semi-finalists Melbourne United have bolstered their stocks with the signing of acrobatic American guard Rayjon Tucker.
Tucker spent the last three seasons in the NBA and G-League, playing 39 games for the Utah Jazz, Philadelphia 76ers, Denver Nuggets, Milwaukee Bucks and 61 games for the Wisconsin Herd.
He averaged 21.3 points, six rebounds, and over three assists per game and is now the all-time leading scorer for the Herd.
United recently lost Australian Boomer's Matthew Dellavedova and Jack White to the NBA with coach Dean Vickerman lauding the excitement and talent Tucker will add to his side.
"He's such an unbelievable athlete who has the ability to bring everything we were looking for to the table," Vickerman said.
"He plays with a lot of energy, a lot of excitement, at 6'3 he plays a lot bigger than he is. We know he will bring in great versatility as a defender, being able to guard 1-through-4.
"We've played an above the rim style in the past with our guards, but this is a next-level athlete who will be able to fill some of the gaps we lost with Jack White.
"I think fans are going to be really excited by the power and athleticism he'll bring to John Cain Arena."
The 2022-23 NBL season tips-off on Saturday, October 1.
