With Shane Heal, Brent Hobba, Jacob Holmes and Joe Ingles all signed for next season and several players’ futures still to be decided, the boys will be out in force in coming months to show just what they’re made of.

The off-season sees Matt Shanahan take a break from on-court action to coach the Ballarat Miners in the South East Australian Basketball League from Saturday, March 10.

For Shanahan, a former assistant coach to Brendan Joyce at the Wollongong Hawks, the Miners gig represents his first outing as head coach of an elite-level team.

And while the veteran guard has signed to Ballarat in a non-playing capacity, only time will tell if he gives in to his love of the game to join his charges on court.

Two of South’s first-season favourites sure to be in the thick of the action are Brent Hobba and Ash Cannan. The Dragons duo will return to the court for the Dandenong Rangers on Saturday March 17, when they take on the Waverley Falcons in Round 1 of Big V competition.

Adam Quick will also contest the Big V season, lining up for the Sandringham Sabres from Sunday, March 18. Catch Quick in action when the Sabres meet the Warrnambool Seahawks in Round 1 at Sandringham Basketball Stadium.

Travelling further afield this off-season is Shane Heal, who departs for a week-long visit to the USA on April 1. Heal will spend a week behind the scenes at the San Antonio Spurs, one of the powerhouse teams of the NBA.

Having just extended their winning streak to a season-high six games, the Texans are one of the best in the business and will prove a positive ally to the South Dragons’ camp.

Imports Rosell Ellis and Kavossy Franklin will also hit up the world stage in coming months, with Ellis signed to play in the Philippines and Franklin considering offers from several teams in Puerto Rico.

The South Dragons’ new-season line-up will return to club duties in early July ahead of their second assault on the national league.