National Basketball League journeyman Gareth Dawson will return from a year-long drug ban when he takes the court for the Canterbury Rams on Friday night.The 2.05m centre was suspended by the Sports Tribunal for the past 12 months after he tested positive for tamoxifen – a hormone therapy drug.

Dawson’s suspension was reduced from the mandatory two years because he did not use the drug to enhance his sports performance. He claimed he made a careless mistake by not checking prescriptions. Dawson’s suspension lapsed at midnight Thursday, clearing him to suit up for the Rams against Hawke’s Bay at Christchurch’s Cowles Stadium.

During his suspension, he has been unable to partake in any organised team trainings. The 26-year-old Timaru product has played five seasons in the NBL with Manawatu, Southland and Nelson. He has shown glimpses of promise, but battled for consistency. Rams’ coach Mark Dickel expected him to see court-time off the bench against the Hawks.

He said Dawson provided them with another big body and an inside presence.

“We’ll definitely give him his opportunity and hopefully he can help us. There’s not a whole lot of expectation and pressure on him,” he said. “Just being bigger and having a little bit more experience, I think that’s going to help us.”

Friday night’s game begins a stretch of three successive home clashes for the Rams. Two are against Hawke’s Bay, with the other against winless Taranaki.

With just eight games remaining, it is a pivotal juncture in the season for Canterbury, who sit fourth in the eight-team league with a 5-5 record. The significance of the next three games was not lost on Dickel.

“The reality is these home games are going to determine whether we have a chance to go to the playoffs or not. If they’re not must-wins, I don’t know what you would call them.”

Canterbury have been unable to string a consistent run of performances together this season. They have often followed up a strong win with a limp effort. Dickel said it was vital they showed greater desperation than the Hawks and competed hard for 50-50 loose balls and rebounds.

“I hope we come into the game and realise how important it is for us. If we can do that, I think we’ll have a good performance.”

Experienced point guard Jeremy Kench, who is soldiering on with a knee injury, was used off the bench last weekend. Dickel said he would probably do so again to protect him and enable him to make an impact in short stints. That means former NBA player Jermaine Taylor, who has made a quiet beginning to his time at the Rams, will start at point guard.

Taylor will switch to his more natural shooting guard role when Kench or Marty Davison are playing the point. There is no question the Rams need more output from Taylor, who has averaged just 10.3 points in his first three games on 40 per cent shooting.

“He picks stuff up great at practice, now it’s about transferring it over to the game. He desperately wants to play well.”

AT A GLANCE:

Canterbury v Hawke’s Bay, Cowles Stadium, Friday 7pm.

Canterbury: Ethan Rusbatch (c), Marques Whippy (c), Jermaine Taylor, Richie Edwards, Mickell Gladness, Jeremy Kench, Sam Timmins, Marty Davison, Gareth Dawson, Tony Tolovae, Shou Nisbet, Joe Cook-Green.

Hawke’s Bay: Jarrod Kenny, Alonzo Burton, Paora Winitana, Suleiman Braimoh, Zack Atkinson, Morgan Natanahira, Luke Aston, Ana Haku, Darryl Jones, Mateus Marsh.