Perth Wildcats captain Damian Martin is almost certain to play in Saturday morning’s NBA pre-season game against the Denver Nuggets after completing a gruelling training session on Tuesday.

A calf injury prevented Martin from playing at the NBL Blitz and he wasn’t able to convince medical staff that he had recovered in time to play against the Utah Jazz on Sunday.

But the inspirational leader now only has to avoid breaking down during training sessions in Denver to be declared fully fit.

“That’s the best I’ve felt in quite some time,” Martin told thewest.com.au.

“That’s now consecutive sessions where I’ve been able to get through the whole session. Trev told me if I can get through three, I should be able to suit up against Denver and play.

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“I’d be surprised if anything happens between now and then. Today was the toughest session we’ve had in quite some time. We were getting up-and-down, there was a lot of running and it was very physical.

Play Video Utah Utes Basketball have let the Perth Wildcats train at their facilities while they have been in the US. Take a look at what the college training facilities look like. The West Australian Video Utah Utes Basketball have let the Perth Wildcats train at their facilities while they have been in the US. Take a look at what the college training facilities look like.

“If there was any weakness in the calf, I believe it would have been exposed in a session like that. I feel good.”

The Jazz smashed Perth 130-72 on Sunday and the Wildcats reviewed that game with a strong emphasis on the poor first quarter this morning.

Denver beat LeBron James’ LA Lakers yesterday in a game which highlighted their depth. Seven Nuggets scored in double figures, but James spent only 15 minutes on court for his new team.

Martin said it hadn’t been easy watching his team struggling against Utah but he believed the Wildcats would perform vastly better against Denver.

“It was tough to watch,” Martin said.

“But Utah had only lost one player from last year when they made the Western Conference finals. They’re comfortable, they’re confident, they know each other’s game whereas we’d flown in, were adjusting to a much bigger court and new refereeing.

“We’re human. We grew up wanting to play in the NBA. So, we were all thinking ‘this is going to be amazing, this is fantastic’ instead of just focusing on ourselves.

“You’re here to enjoy the experience but I hope the boys back themselves for the next game, go out and play our style of basketball.”

The Wildcats have decided not to retain top-up players Jacob Pullen and Eric Stuteville for the trip to Denver.