NBL legend Derek Rucker has called on the Brisbane Bullets to move Next Star Rocco Zikarsky to their starting five. 

Tyrell Harrison has been the preferred starter in Aron Baynes’ absence through suspension, averaging eight points and six rebounds in his past three appearances. 

But the Bullets are winless during that time, prompting Rucker’s call for change. 

“I’d put Rocco Zikarsky in the starting lineup and let Tyrell come off the bench,” Rucker said on NBL Now.

“I think that’s where Tyrell has traditionally performed the best. He is not a frontline … he is not a starting centre in this competition, we must acknowledge that and come to terms with that.”

Zikarsky has only played seven minutes a game throughout NBL24, but has seen significantly more court-time since Baynes has been out.

“Rocco, you’ve only got him for another year after this one … throw him out there, see what he can do,” Rucker said. 

“It doesn’t mean he has to play 30 minutes a game, but let him play the first four minutes. He needs to play against top-line competition, he needs to work on his physical game conditioning, and I think that’s a great way to do it. Then you bring Harrison in against the other team’s second squad, and that’s where he’s excelled.”

The Bullets are currently in seventh place on the NBL standings, with two wins to open the season now a distant memory, following four straight losses in recent weeks. 

The pressure is on new coach Justin Schueller, and with Baynes still out for another two games and the added blow of Shannon Scott succumbing to a three-week hamstring injury, Round 5 looms as defining in the Bullets’ season. 

It doesn't get any easier though, with a road trip to Perth to take on the Wildcats on Friday, before hosting the red-hot JackJumpers on Sunday.

Win both and they’re right back in the chasing back. Lose both, and it’s a long way back.